Social Media Revisited

The paper raises the question whether Web 2.0 can be seen as a technological or a social innovation and describes interdependencies between these two phenomena. The paper argues that the core innovation of Web 2.0 is the communication of "user generated content" as a new social routine, which is largely congruent with the definition of "Web 2.0" in the communication science discourse (which the authors speak for). The authors distinguish between a technological and a social layer of this innovation. The concrete usage by a broad and heterogeneous audience of the different technologies is seen as the main driver for the spread of web 2.0 and the paradigmatic changes it exerts on numerous fields of life. While technology is seen as a "catalyst", the innovation itself (user generated content) is considered a social one. In a final step, the paper describes the usage of social media in the field of adult learning and the way web 2.0 based learning principles can contribute to social inclusion. In "telecentres", social media have started to prove their potential as easy-to-use applications for activating and integrating target groups with low ICT skills into the "digital society"

Mapping the Social Innovation Maps – The State of Research Practice across Europe

In an effort to better understand the various forms of social innovation, mapping has become a common and widely applied method for gaining insights into social innovation practices. The transdisciplinary nature of social innovation research has led to a plurality of distinct approaches and methods. Given the increasing interest in social innovation, and the apparent endeavour among policymakers to utilise social innovation to address current societal challenges, it is argued that mapping efforts need to be streamlined in order to make better use of their results. The article describes 17 running or shortly ended research projects on social innovation and their methodological approaches on “mapping” social innovations. It provides a systematic overview on project objectives, SI definitions and mapping approaches for each of the scrutinised projects and end with a synoptical analysis on methods, objectives and missing research

Web 2.0 revisited: user-generated content as a social innovation

This paper raises the question whether Web 2.0 can be seen as a technological or a social innovation and which interdependencies exist between these two innovative aspects of the phenomenon. For that purpose, the definition of Web 2.0 as a tag cloud (for example given in Wikipedia) or as a difference in comparison to a "Web 1.0" is revisited, challenged and discarded. In following steps, the paper argues that the core innovation of Web 2.0 is the communication of ´user-generated content´ as a new social routine. The main enabling factors for Web 2.0 utilisation as a social routine are identified as easy-to-use software and broadly spread internet access. So while technology is seen as a ´catalyst´ of the phenomenon, the innovation itself (user-generated content) is considered a social one

A New Player for Tackling Inequalities? Framing the Social Value and Impact of the Maker Movement

The Maker Movement has raised great expectations towards its potential for tackling social inequalities by mediating technology-related skills to everybody. Are maker spaces new players for social inclusion in digital societies? How can this potential impact be framed? While scientific discourse has so far identified broad value and impact dimensions of the Maker Movement, this article adds empirical insight into the potential for tackling social inequalities. The study is based on 39 interviews with makers and managers of maker initiatives and ten self-reporting surveys filled in by maker initiative managers throughout Europe, which have been analyzed qualitatively. We found four main domains in which makers address social inclusion: First, by mediating skills and competences not only in the field of digital technologies but in the broader sense of empowering people to “make” solutions for encountered problems. Second, we found that makers actively strive to provide democratized access to digital fabrication and the knowledge on how to use them. Third and fourth, we found different ambitions articulated by makers to change society and social practices towards a society providing better opportunities for individuals. As an entry point for further research and actions, we derived a maker typology that reflects the diverse and various types of relationships to be found in the maker community. This typology could be used for exploring further collaborations between social actors and the Maker Movement. We conclude with an outlook on potential trajectories of the Maker Movement and specify which could influence the inclusion of marginalized persons

Challenges at the intersection of social media and social innovation

Abstract Inspired by recent critical social and economic developments -and their most visible eruptions in the Arab world, Spain and Greece -which demonstrate that there is a relatively low barrier of entrance for individuals and groups to adopt social media for virtually any shared purpose, objective or cause, a "manifesto" has been written by a group of transdisciplinary researchers, activists and practitioners from the fields of ICT and social movements. It promotes the possibility of using social media as a platform to effectively support the processes of social innovation, overcoming its limitations of speed and scale to become an alternative to currently established institutional mechanisms. Such social innovations comprise all new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that meet current social needs and strengthen civil society. Further, the present paper proposes a framework for research into the elements of socio-technical architectures capable of sustaining large scale social innovations enabled by the availability of social media, considering the "paradigm shift of communication" in a knowledge society and describing key challenges of social innovation initiatives. In this context, the objective of the Manifesto on Social Media for Social Innovation is to propose actions oriented to extract the best of the potential synergies among those two concepts of social innovation and social media

Die Potenziale des Web 2.0 bei der Unterstützung von Lernprozessen

Taugen die Angebote des Web 2.0 zur Unterstützung von Lernprozessen? In drei Schritten soll dieser Frage nachgegangen werden: Zunächst werden die Anforderungen an Lernen in der Wissensgesellschaft umrissen und ‚klassische‘ formale Bildungsangebote kritisiert. Anschließend werden Potenziale des Web 2.0 für informelle Lernprozesse bestimmt. In einem dritten Schritt werden Communitys und Wikis als praktische Beispiele für Web 2.0-gestütztes informelles Lernen diskutiert. Auf dieser Basis können mögliche Einsatzfelder und nächste Schritte zu einer breiteren Nutzung von Web 2.0-gestütztem informellem Lernen skizziert werden

Blended Learning Spaces as a Social Innovation for Local Inclusion, Integration and Employability

The paper highlights the potential of blended learning spaces (telecentres, public internet centresetc.) making use of social media based curricula as a means for fostering eInclusion as a challenge forEuropean policy. It differentiates three dimensions in which blended learning spaces have to improve in orderto scale up to a commonly accepted and professionalised social innovation. Data provided in the paper wascollected and analysed in three European lifelong learning projects. As one specific example, amethodological approach for intergenerational learning is described in more detail, which corresponds with2012 as the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations. The paper hasimplications for (1) application-oriented research in the field of eInclusion and blended learning spaces, (2)blended learning spaces personnel and (3) policy-makers from the European to the regional level by helpingthem reflect upon eInclusion opportunities in their respective field of responsibility