Hi paul,
I read your piece on 'design awareness' and it does have parallels to
my research.
It is not exactly an argument for distance learning. Whilst groups
connected virtually can 'form' in the way that real groups can, the
'language ' is different. More considered writing, less body language,
less showing others their work - this latter, appearing to be crucial.
(I can already hear the stampede of academics saying that all this is
possible virtually!) But a common language that conveys norms, appears
to be extremely important in the forming of year groups.
As for social capital, it's a concept borrowed from a variety of other
academic disciplines. Social capital can be calculated by investigating
four dimensions of ones social network -
- the number of links - the more people you know, the more potentially
you know and the more people know about you
- the closeness of links - this is about the transfer of learning and
innovation
- the quality of links - expert people know better things and if they
are in your network you have a chance to influence them
- the heterogenity of links - the more different types of people you
know, the more perspectives you benefit from
Robert Puttnam is the great popularist on this topic and he has
recently published a book called 'Bowling Alone' which looks at the
loss of community cohesion in the USA.
I have used this kind of profile on design students and it appears to
be important in terms of diffusing innovation and influencing
and gaining agreement about what is 'good design'.
I have been preparing myself to try to use it within a company to test
for the embededness of designers/design.
Find below a reference for a paper I presented on this subject.
Social Capital for Design Innovation and Integration. Designing in
Context, Delft University, Netherlands ISBN; 90-407-2271-4
Best regards
Philippa Ashton
Staffordshire University
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