Session Information
20 SES 9.5 PE/PS, Poster Exhibition / Poster Session
Contribution
In recent years many non-profit organizations have found on the Internet new ways of organizing, informing, reporting and participating (Castells, 2003; Duran, 2009; Fundación Chandra, 2009). However, not all non-profit organizations are able to ride the technological wave, especially the smaller ones, which have less resources and a lack of specific guidance in how to use the digital possibilities. In this sense, the universe of Web 2.0 tools provides a rich scenario to addressed, gradually, the use of collaborative tools for different aims. Each organization is given the capacity to understand these technologies and to adapt them in order to meet their needs by innovative responses.
Jaime Albaiges (2007) argues that ICT should be a factor contributing to a bigger and better performance of each organization’s mission, observing some changes in action protocols in the Third Sector Organizations (TSO) (Nos and Games, 2006), as the case presented in this paper, aiding newly arrived citizens to adapt to their new environment and culture and provides opportunities to enlarge their social network.
Using the Web 2.0 technologies, this paper present the “XarxaPun TIC” project, conceived to encourage participation through a conversational environment by integrating the use of ICT in the immigrant daily lives as a tool for training, information and communication.
The project is presented as a case study with immigrant population or people at social risk, where technologies acting as connectors of their personal goals and their integration expectations. By the use of a social network, as a friendly and conversational environment, these users can interact, learn and meet their expectations.
Two were the initial objectives: (1) developing user’s abilities as well as their personal and occupational skills through the access to new technologies for training and re-training; and (2) promoting and strengthening the existing in-person networks, in order to endorse social cohesion.
“NING” platform was chosen for creating a familiar and participatory environment. This tool, created in 2005 by Marc Andreessen and Gina Bianchini, offers the creation of open or closed networks, where the administrator is able to manage permissions and invitations or modify them according to particular needs, with multiple embed applications for using different communication channels. Also, this tool was chosen because permits the translation into different languages (Haro, 2008) being this facilities clearly useful for the target population from different backgrounds and cultures.
Fifty-eight immigrants participated in the project by entering their profiles in the Social Network “Xarxa PuntTIC” (57% from 25 to 44 years; 46% come from South America, 58% from the European Union and 18,28% from North Africa and Maghreb).
An increased sense of collaborative community-training between users and the facilitator-educator was generated because of the proximity effect produced by the online social network. Both online and in-person project activities’ provided support to the socialization process and training on ICT. There were not merely off actions, as learners continues independently enlarging the initial guidance provided by the volunteer trainers. Thus, we are convinced that ICT network are valuable links to connect people, resources and activities.
Method
Expected Outcomes
References
Albaigès, J. (2009). TecnolONGia. Les Tecnologies de la informaicó i les Comunicacions a les Organitzacions No Lucratives. Post del 27/02/2007. URL: http://www.tecnolongia.org/?p=34&lang_view=es Castells, M. (2003). La era de la información: El poder de la identidad. Barcelona: Alianza. Craig, G. and Marjorie, M. (1995). Community empowerment: a reader in participation and development. Experiences of grassroots development. London: SAGE. Duran. J. (2009). OTS. Noves formes d´utilizació d´Internet: Les XarxesSocials. Fundación Iwith.org. URL: http://www.congrestercersector.cat/repositori/file/Posters%20Agora/Poster_Iwtih_org.pdf Erickson, J. A. and Anderson. J. B. (1997). Learning with the community: concepts and models for service-learning in teacher education. Washington, DC: American Association for Higher Education. Fundación Chandra (2009). Informe Final ¿Cómo utilizamos las TIC desde las organizaciones no lucrativas, en España? . URL: http://www.laboratoriodeinnovacionsocial.org/informe-final.pdf Haro, J. J. (2008). Aplicación de NING a la educación. Post 9 de noviembre de 2008. Blog EDUCATIVA. URL: http://jjdeharo.blogspot.com/2008/11/aplicacin-de-ning-la-educacin.html Nos, E. and Gámes, M. J. (2006). Medios de comunicación y solidaridad: reflexiones en torno a la (des)articulación social. Vol. 5 Cooperació i solidaritat. Barcelona: Universitat Jaume I.
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