If I was of a cynical nature, and I was in that sort of mood...
Another possible factor is the need for some tweeters / facebookers to keep their profile high by "Look what I found" without really evaluating the potential value of the resource and directing it at those who could do with it. I cannot believe the volume of tweets from some and I wonder how they get any work done. Perhaps they wish that they are more interesting because of this i.e. interesting by proxy, and therefore get a following. After a while it works the other way. I suspect some have a Munchhausen's like disorder of gaining attention by using up another's attention time by link posting.
If one calculated the potential time cost of following distracting tweets its probably equivalent to person-days lost through a national outbreak of swine flu. I wish some could be more judicious -because some minor fraction of the time what they posted was actually useful enough for me to keep following - its just so annoying!
The lack of follow-up on the recirculated links may be due to most readers not having time to chase them up, no matter how well intentioned. It's just a symptom of social media.
There, now wasn't that worth posting? Perhaps I should have blogged it and sent you all the link? :-)
Terry.
-----Original Message-----
From: Open Educational Resources [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patrick Lockley
Sent: 29 March 2011 16:57
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Link sharing on Xpert
A lot of the links are shared on more than one platform - that's what got me - and the popularity of the facebook app.
I would widely agree with this - but also that the notion of a "shallow search" in that we aren't always looking for an answer.
For Mr Pearce's "serendipity", I give you Lockley's "it'll do" quality of search.
________________________________________
From: Open Educational Resources [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Amber THOMAS [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 3:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Link sharing on Xpert
Sometimes I google for websites that I haven't bookmarked but I know what they are, I know they're there. I'm re-searching for something i already know rather than searching for something new.
I wonder if people use xpert like that? A sort of "i know i found it on xpert" - and remembering the search parameters so you can find it again.
Especially when services share thumbnails/previews on screen so you don't even have to click into the result items, you recognise it.
I agree with chris its likely sometimes to be highlighting their own stuff. No shame in that!
-----Original Message-----
From: Open Educational Resources [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christopher Taylor [BIS]
Sent: 29 March 2011 14:59
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Link sharing on Xpert
Really interesting stats there, though I wonder what the value is in simply re-publicising content that you haven't even actually looked at and evaluated yourself?
Presumably the re-publiciser is just simply making a value judgement based only on the metadata/description of the resource? That certainly reinforces the need for good quality descriptions. Also offers a strong case for displaying the right metadata on a search results page.
Could it perhaps be the author/contributor themselves using the enhanced discovery options of the repository to further promote their own resources? Not that I\m suggesting that in a sinister/spammy manner, just could be a useful way of taking advantage of the tools. (As I've just noticed you've alluded to in your post)
Chris.
-----Original Message-----
From: Open Educational Resources [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Patrick Lockley
Sent: 29 March 2011 12:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Link sharing on Xpert
http://blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/learningtechnology/2011/03/29/the-links-effect/
Keen not to prejudice this blog post with my own analysis, but it brings up some interesting usage results.
An interesting discussion topic I feel.This message and any attachment are intended solely for the addressee and may contain confidential information. If you have received this message in error, please send it back to me, and immediately delete it. Please do not use, copy or disclose the information contained in this message or in any attachment. Any views or opinions expressed by the author of this email do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Nottingham.
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