In the next installment of iCommons.org’s handy hint of the week, here is lesson #2: maximising your node’s capabilities.

You can check out the longer definition explaining what a node is on the FAQ page. But let me simply define nodes in only 3 easy key phrases here.

Nodes are:
1. Specific projects with specific outcomes,
2. Hubs of activity,
2. Driven by participants.

Let me elaborate, this time avoiding Larry Lessig underpants examples.

Nodes are about specific projects with specific outcomes, so it would be fruitless to start a node called ‘iCommons’, for example. iCommons as an organisation undertakes an array of projects: from running this website, to organising the annual Summit, to facilitating and participating in broader projects in the educational and cultural fields.

Even a formidable Atlas-like commoner would buckle with the mass of work to be done. And what would the achievable end-goal be - a successful summit? A set of resources around cultural heritage? An upgraded newsletter? All of the above? And how exactly would all of these be achieved?

Nodes are rather about establishing and facilitating bite-sized projects, and laying down the steps for how the project will unfold.

So, the better option for iCommons would be to refine projects down, even beyond a Summit ‘08 node – for example, we’ve started Summit in Second Life and Summit Translation nodes – to start discussions about the Summit on a micro-level. And we’ve laid down the steps for making these small aspects of the Summit a success.

This means that when you upload a node, you should think quite carefully when filling out the goals, summary description and detailed description fields. Take inspiration from other nodes that have formulated their goals and steps for success well, for example, the Local Context, Global Commons and the iLondon nodes, amongst the many other nodes on the site.

The other two phrases are closely related: nodes are hubs of activity and are driven by participants.

Once you’ve set up your node, outlining what the goal is and how you’ll be achieving your goal – you need to infuse some enthusiasm and activity into the project by recruiting people to participate in the node. Think of the people you know who would be able to offer their knowledge or skill in making your project a success, and then invite them to join the node either through their profile page (if they are registered on the site) or by email.

Also, you’ll need to ‘advertise’ your node, in order to get people you don’t know, who might be able to offer some valuable insight, involved in the project. Good ways to do this may be to tell the mailing list about your node, or to write an article for icommons.org on a topic closely related to your node. This way, word about your node will circulate, and the more activity you have around your node, the better – as you will have a variety of people offering their insights and assistance in carrying the project through.

Finally, node administrators and their participants need to keep a close eye on the node, and drive discussions and activities by uploading to the node blog, and starting or responding to forum conversations. In this way the node will gather even more participants, with even more activity – and that’s all the better for the successful outcome of the project!

As the node application is a newly established section of icommons.org, we are constantly working on ways to improve the system and make it user-friendly. If you have any bugs to report, please do so through our Trac system, and please sign up as a participant in our iCommons.org version 2.0 node, to brainstorm how we can make nodes work even better for you!

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