Third Places

Our class is a Third Place in many respects. Because its a computerized interaction, it is a neutral ground where people won't feel as intimidated where as they might during a discussion section. Obviously, with any class we are open to all people and so in that way it acts as a leveler. The main activity is conversation because that is the purpose of the blog, to communicate and throw ideas at one another. Depending upon what kinds of resources people have the blogs can also be more accommodating than physically going to a class. Because this is through a class, all of the participants are regulars and the website is kept low profile because the only people who contribute are those that are part of this class. The only two exceptions to this Third Place idea might be the playful mood and the home away from home. Depending upon how people's ideas and conversations vary, we are still in an academic environment that isn't necessarily for fun and leisure, rather for school and education because we have to be here. It is in these last two features in which the Blog really diverges from being a Third Place.

The Blog, as I have found in some of my other classes can greatly help social capital, especially when it comes to helping one another with class concepts, exams, etc. The Blog can act as a tool of reciprocity in offering advice and help for students to help clarify questions that come up about the class. It is in this way that the Social Capital is greatly increased in this community.