How to Boil the Ocean?

1. How to Boil the Ocean? Berlin Fang Oklahoma Christian University March, 2011

2. “Kids on the web, what do we do about it?”

3. Fear of the “Web” • Am I losing personal touch? • Can I have a presence at a distance?

4. Why do people blog?

5. “Wall Posts” from the Past

6. Why Blogs in the Age of Twitter and Facebook

7. What really matters? Using the tool? • College Essay Assignment: • “If you were a bird and you were to tell humans about environment protection, what would you say? Please limit your length to 500 words.”

8. What really matters? Or using the tool to post quality content? • Student: “Tweet, tweet, tweet, Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet,Tweet, tweet, tweet… ”(The word is repeated 500 times.)

9. Blogger roles • Citizen journalist • West Virginia Mine Disaster Example • Writer • “Nothing has happened unless bloggers are talking about it” • Teacher • “I learned…” • “Window” • “Window to the world” • “Lobbyist” • Workers’ Union example

10. Blogging changed my life • Articles • Columns • Books • Awards • Friends • Respect at home? • Missions

11. From Blogs to Podcasts

12. Blog is media

13. Most Read • “Too close vs. too clear” (220,730 views/676 comments) • Pre-marital questions (106,018/174) • The relativity of wealth (83,825/370) • Who tricked women out of their Homes (77,347/324) • Tattletellers will have no treats (76,078/206) • On passports and national power (74,152/194) • Deadly Complex (72,436/159) • From a truck to Harvard (71,887/178) • Yes, there is a difference between man and woman (68,619/78) • Carrots, not sticks: how Americans do census (63,971/121)

14. Implication for Online Discussion: What Drives People to a Blog or Discussion • Story • One ounce of story is worth a ton of argument • Familiarity • If people know well enough about you, they will read • Relevance • If this is something they can relate to, they will come • Practicality • If this is something useful, they will come • Curiosity • If this is something they always want to know about, they will come

15. Intergenerational Chart

17. Most Commented • After Lu Xun, can we have Lin Yutang (61,390/924) • Guo Jingming (45,468/914) • “Too close vs. too clear” (220,730/676) • Chinese literature is a lonely island (25,890/670) • How far is Hanhan from becoming a public intellectual (25,917/432) • The relativity of wealth (83,825/370) • Who tricked women out of their Homes (77,347/324) • Liu Qian’s Magic (37,985/307) • End of brand loyalty (52,931/305) • Dignity by design (39,500/287)

18. Implication for online discussions: why would a reader participate? • “Duck” effect • Dull arguments are not conducive to discussions • Duck vs. Portfolio • “Watchdog” effect • People are on guard on errors • “The masses’ eyes are snow-bright/razor sharp”. • “Dragonfly” effect • Reader cannot tolerate incongruity • “Safety valve” effect • Readers feel rather safe to comment if you create a non-threatening atmosphere • “My turf” effect • Everybody is an expert at something • “I’ve got to say something” • There are those readers who are determined to say something, anything

19. Portrait of An Engaged Learner

20. Cases: robbing the old

21. Cases: Forks and Chopsticks

23. Cases: Hey couples, talk your way to bliss

24. Power of A Good Controversy: Tiger Mom

25. Cases: tiger mom method can wait

26. Passion is What Matters • "I reckon you wouldn't even be human being if you didn't have some pretty strong personal feelings about …” • -- Dr. Strangelove

27. Catalyze Passion • “When you create a product or service that some people love, don’t be surprised when others hate you. Your goal is to catalyze passion – Pro or anti. Don’t be offended if people take issue with what you’ve done; the only result that should offend (and scare) you is lack of interest.” • Guy Kawaskaki, The Art of the Start

28. Design Controversy • Story • Instead of using an argument, try starting your discussion with a story, anecdote, quote • Purpose • Not just for the “eye-ball” • Participation • Monitor if someone is “off-the-mark” • Saturation • Close your comments when you have gathered all possible important angles

29. Advice for managing your blog 8. Keep your design simple and straightforward 7. Use multiple channels for promotion 6. Write with your grandma in mind 5. Blog to change the world, one reader at a time 4. Share your expertise 3. Find the right start 2. Do not worry about fame 1. Respect the media

30. Lessons Learned • Write offline and save often • Write as if you are going to publish it • Be yourself: you do not need to behave like a geek • Do not post things you will regret

31. And try not to get fired

33. A Call to Action: Web Is Not Just For The Young.Start A Blog Too!

34. Berlin Fang Berlin.fang@oc.edu Twitter: @berlinf Personal Blog: http://berlinfang.blog.163.com Professional Blog: http://ni.oc.edu Group Blog (Just starting): http://www.oc.edu/occreativeminds