Comments on: When does Average Joe become Joe Expert?

By: S. Johnston-Robinett

S. Johnston-Robinett — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:50:43 +0000

RT @teach42: When does Average Joe become Joe Expert? http://bit.ly/bdvNcm

By: Patti Duncan

Patti Duncan — Sun, 17 May 2009 18:37:11 +0000

Steve,
Interesting blog post. I too have been in the position of being considered an “expert” when I felt less than qualified. When I think about it though… I think that we can all be considered “experts” in one way or another if we fit the following guidelines:
1) Have more knowledge on the subject than those who are looking to you for help
2) Be willing to share, unabashedly and without reservation what we know on the subject
3) Be willing to refer the “knowledge seekers” to SOMEONE ELSE who might be better able to help them without fear of NOT being considered THE EXPERT on a topic
4) Be willing to constantly search to know as much we can about the subject, even if that means changing our opinions on that subject if need be
5) Make every effort possible to put into practice what we are sharing with others in the setting that it is meant to be practiced in. IF that is not possible, be willing to cite those who do and have succeeded in doing so….
IMO… someone can be considered an expert in just about anything, if they fit these criteria. I also agree with someone who commented earlier that a great deal of “expert status” has to do with visability. There are TONS of experts who are operating on their local level within their own communities and have no desire to expand their sharing community. The fact that they have not “gone National” does not diminish their “expert” status as long as there are others who could benefit from their sharing..

Patti Duncan´s most recent blog post.. 50 Ways to Use DE Streaming… and BEYOND!

By: Susan van Gelder

Susan van Gelder — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:21:53 +0000

When I was in the classroom I had a Niels Bohr quote on the wall, “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field.” To me that sums it up – the willingness to make mistakes, to learn from them, to rethink and go on. And at some point in that adventure, you develop expertise that comes of practice. Thanks for sharing your expertise.

By: Lee Kolbert

Lee Kolbert — Sun, 17 May 2009 17:05:50 +0000

You really struck a nerve here with me, Steve. I’ve been called an expert in some things, which, although flattering, makes me really uncomfortable. I definitely do not think of myself as an expert in anything (well, I do make a mean Mojito) but I’m pretty good at listening, observing and trying to help others meet their specific needs; no different than any good teacher.

There’s no good way to respond when someone introduces or refers to you as an expert. If you don’t refute, does that mean you agree? If you do refute, are you confronting/embarrassing the person who said it, and do the people who are listening/participating with you suddenly lose confidence in you?

I think people who hear you advocate for the same things and provide good examples of sustainable models see you as an expert, merely because you do it and they haven’t. There’s also the Oprah-Effect. Once another “recognizable expert” acknowledges you as “an expert” then the door is open. Of course, it’s up to you, at that point, to show it or blow it.

I do not think being engaging qualifies you as being an expert (think geeky scientist); however I do think you need to be engaging to share your expertise effectively.

By: Sean Nash

Sean Nash — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:52:37 +0000

Shoot- commentluv skipped me. Here is the post: http://nashworld.edublogs.org/2009/02/13/trolling-my-pln-for-edtech-vision/

Anyone here feel like sharing/suggesting an “expert” or two for this mission?

By: Sean Nash

Sean Nash — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 20:48:29 +0000

Love this post. It hit home today, considering I have been trolling the folks I know for days now asking for suggestions on folks to come consult with a very open-minded school district taking the time out to do things right for a change.

I had a feeling that asking for suggestion on this post might draw fewer comments than normal. I mean, really… how many people who actually DO some consulting/speaking work are going to mention their name? I guess this says some good things about edtech “experts.”

Still- I am wishing I wasn’t the only voice in my entire district who is “picking the expert.” Always feels better to make decisions as a group. No?

Sean

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:48:06 +0000

EXPERT = Former Leak Under Pressure

By: RWilliams

RWilliams — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:46:16 +0000

Thank you for such a good blog read this morning.

I would like to ask one question though

Why does the network, the voices of NECC, continually point to the same people as experts — such as CoolCatTeacher?

Though I had seen the project, on a scale compared to many others, what she did was within a private school setting with herself controlling the variables of filters, admin decisions, and a small amount of involvement compared to many other projects I have seen. In no way have I seen this project to be duplicated in any other environment.

Is it because of visibility and self-promotion that someone becomes and expert?

Again, this was a good read, but please, start sharing new names of experts.

Thank you.

ps: I am at NECC. If I see you, I will introduce myself. First time, still absorbing it all.

By: NECC - trying to keep up in the echo chamber. « Lucacept - intercepting the Web

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 05:16:03 +0000

[...] been in my mind for awhile now. Another one to have a read of would be Steve Dembo’s post ‘When does average Joe become Joe expert?’ Both of these posts reflect on names in the blogosphere and our tendancy to listen to what they [...]

By: Steve Kinney

Steve Kinney — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:19:27 +0000

Originally, I was going to leave a long and possibly rambling response to your question. Instead, I’m going to try to answer it in one sentence:

Average Joe becomes Joe Expert when you narrow the field of knowledge and niche down as much as possible.

For example, Average Joe restaurant eater may become Joe Expert when you want to know about the best lunch special Indian food restaurant in Fort Greene, Brooklyn that is BYOB — then all of a sudden, Average Joe has become Joe Expert.

Steve Kinney’s most recent blog post.. The argument for web applications

By: Karl Fisch

Karl Fisch — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 00:35:08 +0000

Hmm, I thought people always went out in a blaze of glory . . .

Yes, I think it’s very interesting how the concept of expert appears to be changing somewhat (well, at least for some folks). I now fairly regularly get asked to do speaking engagements – and it still surprises the heck out of me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I think I have something to add to the conversation, but I find it interesting that because of my blogging – and the Presentation That Shall Not Be Named – I’m apparently considered an “expert” – or at least someone worth listening to (and , even more amazingly, worth paying to come be listened to) – even though I don’t think I have the “qualifications” to be considered an expert (nor do I consider myself one).

I’ve said yes to a few speaking engagements, but no to probably five for every one I’ve said yes to. I think what I have to talk about is very important, but most of the time I think I’m not a particularly good fit for the audience, or that due to the setup I wouldn’t get a chance to really accomplish anything of value. I often think that there are probably many folks in the audience that do know more than I do about the topic, but I guess I hope that perhaps I spur them to do a little bit more with what they do know and take action. In the end, I’m not sure if it matters that much if someone is an expert or not (at least in the areas we’re talking about), as long as they are able to further the conversation and make a difference for our students.

Karl Fisch’s most recent blog post.. Birmingham, Michigan is Looking for a Forward Thinking Principal

By: What’s the point of Second Life? - Teach42

What’s the point of Second Life? - Teach42 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:55:06 +0000

[...] in your expert opinion, what is the point of using Second Life in education? Author: [...]

By: Steve Dembo

Steve Dembo — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:32:18 +0000

@Jeff LoL, interesting question. Great correlation. I never really think about seeking out experts when I do Google searches, but essentially that IS what I'm doing. Trying to find someone who is trustworthy and has an answer to my question. Steve Dembo's most recent blog post.. Aaahhh, the joys of being a teacher

By: wmchamberlain

wmchamberlain — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:28:47 +0000

An expert is a person that already solved the problem you have now. wmchamberlain's most recent blog post.. Having Fun in Summer School?!

By: jeffmason

jeffmason — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:16:00 +0000

I was listening to Eric Schmidt speak this week and was reminded that Google was answering the question “how you determine who qualifies as an expert?’ for us, i.e knol project. While Google expects a knol to “be the first thing someone who searches for this topic for the first time will want to read”, I wonder how many people will make it the only thing they read. (Like our students who never venture past the first search page returned.)
For grins and giggles, I would also like to know if Google used the Wikipedia article on ‘expert’ to determine who qualifies to write a knol.

jeffmason’s most recent blog post.. Mars Phoenix Lander and Science Education Reform