Blog #6: Communities of Practice

Social Media and the notion of Communities of Practice has now become a reality. People not only use Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter for mindless activities. These applications are being used in business, education, as well as information gathering and sharing of that information to the masses. People connect with their friends in social networks, but nowadays, people are also searching out those with similar interests, whether that be gaming, education, politics, and so on. I believe that we now have Global Communities of Practice, in that through the Internet, Web2.0 tools, and Social Media applications we can meet individuals from all over the world, form relationships, and realize that we are more alike than different. Even though we come from different environments and backgrounds, together we can logically come up with solutions and share that information easily through the use of social media applications. With proper rules of behavior and etiquette online, and given the understanding that users are to follow these rules as they would follow the rules in the "Real World," friendships, partnerships, and new communities of practice can evolve that include members from all over the globe. What a great way for people to brainstorm together and create a better world through communication and understanding. If we all communicate and brainstorm issues of today together, what wonderful solutions to todays problems we could come up with given all of the thought that is put into solving those problems, just think what a better world it will be in the future.