Where can I get information or learn how to use digital media or example of digital media in the arts. One of the best ways to learn is to learn through experience. But it is also good to read about it, talk to others in the sector, and also people not in the industry.

I'm yet to find a good directory of resources, but through what better place than here to start sharing some resources. Please add yours so we can develop a list of resources we can all learn from, be that blogs, blog posts, websites, or great peeps to follow on Twitter :-)

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Social Media Surgeries

A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they'll show you useful free tools.

Socialmediasurgeries.com is a website where you can find out where they are happening, and/or start your own if your area doesn't have one. 

Hi Kelly 

I coordinate the Young Critics group and we ran a free workshop yesterday and set up a new WordPress blog

http://theyoungcritics.com/2011/07/17/saturdays-workshop/

We had lots of interesting discussion about Digital Media during the day. 

Guy 

Guy, that is excellent. It is really good to learn about the workshop for the Young Critics, what you guys learnt about digital media . I like the blog, where people interested can learn more about what Young critics are doing and the workshop. :-)) Thanks for posting. :-)

I went along to the Social Media Surgery held at Chapter Cardiff and found it really useful, it's really nice to go along and feel that it's okay to ask really simple questions about how something works and then share that information with others.

 I was also given a contact for someone who might be able to help me out with some stuff in the future. So I began that conversation with this other person on Twitter and I don't even know what they look like! So I guess there is a lot of trust bound up in these online conversations.

 

Jain, really glad you found it useful. I find I'm still learning every day and no one is an expert in this space, so keep asking those questions. Is the best way to learn - ask. 

As for trust, yes there is a lot of trust and norms in terms of social interaction in digital social networks, but it is not that much different to those over the telephone [other than tone of voice]. Often we get advice from customer service desks without ever meeting the person helping us. Difference with Twitter of course is it is heavily words/text on a screen, not even a voice. 

I've learnt that the best approach is just to be your professional self in all spaces - digital or not, as often they are public spaces and being really is also the key to forging real authentic relationships. Twitter is a great leveller ... both in terms of geography, background and reach into others networks for certain reasons you might not have accessible. 

Can't wait to hear how it goes. :-)

Well, Carl Morris and I run training on digital media - that's one way! We have a course running in Cardiff and Caernarfon at the end of this month if anyone is interested http://cyfle.co.uk/news/2518

When I train people in digital media, I try to create a mix of theoretical knowledge, software training and practical experience. There is a difficulty in training people in publishing social media - namely that there is no 'practice room' - everything is public, so it's akin to asking an actor to rehearse but only on stage with a full auditorium! But it is possible, especially by using your personal accounts to practice before being let loose on a brand's public presence. 

There is lot to learn about how social media transforms the logic, style and workflow of communications work that you might be doing for an organisation - the switch from push messaging to conversational publishing, and you need to really immerse yourself in digital media a bit to achieve that paradigm shift in your own thinking. I try to provide examples of how this culture shift manifests in concrete examples, and get trainees to think about how they can shift their communications into a more conversational mode. 

There is a set of knowledge about how to publish online that most people involved in web development understand well - how to create good, searchable titles, meaningful links and useful metadata, for example. This is now becoming basic knowledge for anyone involved in social media, but unfortunately, it is not well known. I'd recommend that anyone publishing social media material, in whatever capacity, gets to know about these things, in order to make their content more professional looking. If you are publishing on behalf of an organisation, this knowledge is essential, in order to avoid your organisation looking amateurish. 

 

While generic social media training can be really useful, the more I work in this field, the more I often feel that it is easier and more effective to deliver personal mentoring, where it is possible to tailor the knowledge and skills to your specific needs and help you to develop strategy. Social media mentoring is the most effective resource I can think of for improving skills.

 

The most useful tool I have ever found for improving your social media knowledge? Google. Got a question? Ask google - there is bound to be an answer out there on the web. 

 

Another good one is http://oneforty.com/, where you can learn about what other people use.

Tom thanks for your response and the plug for your training event. There are numerous events and differing peeps running meet-up and surgeries, sometimes it is difficult to know what really is suitable for effective digital learning. I agree mentoring is good and one way to go. But it really depends on the needs of the learner and their organisation. Large group sessions can be useful in some cases, where as small-group or one-to-one's are essential in others. 

But which ever approach agree it is critical that we invest in improving our skills within an organisation, and unlearning traditional mindsets around how we use and manage digital technologies and the value we place in ongoing learning so your team has the skills to commission, communicate and liaise with/through digital. 

I've not yet read anything that says what is basic or advanced knowledge in the space, or to differing groups of learners, I'm still of the school that learning doesn't have a hierarchy ... we are just all different. 

:-)

 

 

Cardiff Bloggers Meet-ups

Cardiff Bloggers Meetups are a chance for people who want to find out more about blogging to get help, local bloggers to meetup and share ideas and also hear from some top blogging speakers. Although the name is a little confusing, you don't actually have to be a blogger to come - everyone is welcome!

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cdfblogs

 

Cardiff Girl Geek Dinners

Cardiff Girl Geek Dinners are a wonderful group of Girl Geeks in Cardiff that have evening dinners, BBQ's and events every couple of months. They are well worth attending if interested in networking with like minded souls interested in the world of digital. 

Website: http://www.cardiffgirlgeekdinners.com/

Twitter: @cardiffgirlgeek

 

Business in a Digital Age - WiM Network Event - 15th September 2011.

 

Women in Management Network are hosting an event on the 15th September 2011 about Business in a Digital Age. The evening event is focusing on security, safety, privacy in an age of increasingly social computing. Panel include: Dr Kelly Page, Cardiff Business School; Liam Giles, Spindogs and Peter Gwyn, eCrime Specialist. 

A PDF document is attached with more information, or visit the Chartered Management Institutes website: http://cmievents.managers.org.uk/EventViewer.aspx?id=6468

 

 

 

 

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Cardiff Web Scene

Cardiff Web Scene is a community of cardiff professionals interested in the web, from developers, designers, entrepreneurs, marketers, experienced or those still learning. 

Their next meet up is 5th of October, 2011. But another great group of meet to network with and learn more about what is going on in the world of digital 'across sectors.'

:-)

Guardian Culture Professionals

Jen Thornton posted an interesting blog post about a section of the Guardian website for professionals in the culture sector. It has lost of information - both digital and non-digital related, advice for cultural arts professionals. Great find Jen. Thanks for sharing. :-)

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