The New Gold Rush - Mining Raw Human Potential Using Free Web Tools
by Frank Odasz
As the cost of computers and Internet access continues to drop, and the range
of free Web tools and online self-directed learning opportunities expands, serious
questions emerge: How can we provide the best training for the most people—requiring
the least investment of time and effort, yet proven to produce inspired, self-motivated
learners? There is a huge, untapped economic reserve of raw human potential, made
accessible by the Internet’s ability to offer ongoing, low-cost education,
training and support.
Here are a few examples of them.
- Citizen-to-citizen mentoring is the only way there will be enough mentors
to meet the need, seeing as how six billion new Internet users are expected
over the next 15 years due to advances in low-cost, high speed, two-way Internet
satellite and wireless technologies. At About.com
we see individual mentors hosting national topic-specific directories of resources
as part of a commercial business. Where is the local counterpart? At the ASKA+
site one can see topical listings of citizens’ expertise with offerings
of free online mentorship, an easily replicable model relevant to local and
global citizen-to-citizen teaching
- We’re still seeing free E-business start-up services offered by dozens
of businesses. Growing online consumer communities using interactive tools
is fast becoming mainstream. There are rapidly emerging and diverse models
for micropayments and alternative economies. For example: Fatbrain.com
and Mightyworlds.com reward creative
citizens who post learning resources and articles. Epinions.com
rewards citizens who rate online resources. The number of examples is soaring.
- The need exists to emphasize the role of youth-based community Internet
awareness-raising through low-cost, short-term, local action initiatives such
as those posted at the Bootstrap
Academy and “Building
Learning Communities.”
