Can Community Informatics/Networking ever become an academic subject? Brian D. Loader & Leigh Keeble CIRA, University of Teesside, UK

Towards a new subject? Community informatics/networking appearing on curriculum in H.E. & F.E. Community informatics/networking appearing on curriculum in H.E. & F.E. New academic networks emerging CIRN, CRACIN New academic networks emerging CIRN, CRACIN New CI journal to be launched New CI journal to be launched Academics involved in community informatics/networking projects. Academics involved in community informatics/networking projects.

Community informatics/networking as a course subject? ICT becoming part of mainstream course provision e.g. business studies, public admin/mgt, social science etc… ICT becoming part of mainstream course provision e.g. business studies, public admin/mgt, social science etc… Voluntary & community sector (VCS) important for social, economic, political development but slow adoption of ICTs Voluntary & community sector (VCS) important for social, economic, political development but slow adoption of ICTs Little provision of VCS courses so CI/CN has no natural home Little provision of VCS courses so CI/CN has no natural home CI/CN modules CI/CN modules

What is the focus of analysis for community informatics/networking? A Field of Study – multidisciplinary A Field of Study – multidisciplinary Digital divide – access & connectivity Digital divide – access & connectivity Computer skills & literacy Computer skills & literacy Economic regeneration – community businesses Economic regeneration – community businesses Civic participation – e-dem/e-gov Civic participation – e-dem/e-gov Culture – difference & diversity Culture – difference & diversity Place AND space? Place AND space?

The methodological basis of community informatics/networking? Theoretical basis – social capital, communitarianism, community studies. Theoretical basis – social capital, communitarianism, community studies. Social network analysis Social network analysis Predominantly Case studies not easily comparable Predominantly Case studies not easily comparable Often action research limited by partiality of researchers Often action research limited by partiality of researchers Benefit from more empirical and/or critical approaches Benefit from more empirical and/or critical approaches

Is community informatics/networking a policy oriented subject? Focus of CI/CN has strong policy implications – digital divide, regeneration, regulation, security, e-dem/gov. Focus of CI/CN has strong policy implications – digital divide, regeneration, regulation, security, e-dem/gov. Does it need to foster better ties with policy community? Does it need to foster better ties with policy community? What do policy-makers need from CI/CN? What do policy-makers need from CI/CN? Perhaps similarities with Public/Social Policy studies? – Could be a home? Perhaps similarities with Public/Social Policy studies? – Could be a home?

Is community informatics a practitioner subject? Academics vs. Practitioners? Academics vs. Practitioners? Difference better than assimilation Difference better than assimilation Understanding of respective roles and value Understanding of respective roles and value Focus outputs (publications, conferences, etc) on different audiences rather than please everyone. Focus outputs (publications, conferences, etc) on different audiences rather than please everyone.

Future academic directions for community informatics/networking? Separation of ‘is’ and ‘ought’ Separation of ‘is’ and ‘ought’ Not value-neutral! Is it not possible to be both critical and practical, both speculative and pragmatic? Not value-neutral! Is it not possible to be both critical and practical, both speculative and pragmatic? Challenge assumptions that CI/CN is necessarily beneficial Challenge assumptions that CI/CN is necessarily beneficial Develop clearer relationships and roles between academics, policy-makers & practitioners Develop clearer relationships and roles between academics, policy-makers & practitioners Develop robust & comparable methodological basis for CI/CN Develop robust & comparable methodological basis for CI/CN Widen field of investigation to include virtual networks, social movements, included & excluded. Widen field of investigation to include virtual networks, social movements, included & excluded.