Six lessons to bear in mind
Go with the stones that roll
Donít try for all frogs in the wheelbarrow
Develop new roles and teams.
Work inside as well as ëin the communityí
Combine online + face to face + places
Value technology as neutral space
Notes:
Look for what is working and go with it. Be prepared to change.
Donít expect to get everyone on board ñ by that time the enthusiasts may have jumped out.
Help people develop a new mix of skills ñ technical, content development, facilitation, training.
Build capability within the council and between agencies. Thereís little point in promoting interaction if officials canít respond.
Donít expect to do it all online. People email best after meeting. Phone calls are allowed too! Plan sustainable multi-use resource centres with a mix of access, training and business uses.
The technology crosses boundaries, and the task of building online facilities creates a ëneutral spaceí where people can explore new ways of collaborating.
See presentations by Terry Grunwald at http://www.partnerships.org.uk/terry for more on these lessons.