tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post2682633252203932406..comments2024-03-25T17:34:35.600+11:00Comments on Sarah Stewart: Closing Down MidwiferySarah Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-33759765495258441592010-07-07T06:06:07.288+10:002010-07-07T06:06:07.288+10:00Thanks for the comment, Rob. I wrote this post 2 y...Thanks for the comment, Rob. I wrote this post 2 years ago and it has been good re-visiting it and thinking about how or if things have changed over the last 2 years. Certainly, people are advised to be as cautious as they were 2 years ago, but I have seen an marked increase in social networking, especially Facebook. <br /><br />What do you see are the main traps that you'd advise against, Rob...and others?Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-8452922009342981782010-07-07T02:55:46.890+10:002010-07-07T02:55:46.890+10:00I'm sure one day that blogging and participati...I'm sure one day that blogging and participation in online socialmedia will be encouraged but in the UK at least it seems a big question mark hangs over this issue where Midwives / Students are concerned.<br /><br />On our site, affectionately known to most as people SMNET, we make a recommendation for the protection of our members to remain anonymous - this recommendation is made in light of various NMC rules and cases of midwives and students being told to remove blogs / facebook pages / profiles, or worse being disciplined because of them.<br /><br />I am sure that once attitudes in the UK progress then this recommendation can be revisited.<br /><br />The signs of change are there - whilst facebook and blogging may not exactly be encouraged, many universities list SMNET as a recommendation on reading lists - SMNET, whichever way you decide to classify it is still a social network so perhaps times are changing after all.<br /><br />Great blog Sarah and keep up the great work!Robhttp://www.studentmidwife.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-46562266401835995912008-11-28T10:18:00.000+11:002008-11-28T10:18:00.000+11:00Great post Sarah.I don't wear g-strings but I do h...Great post Sarah.<BR/>I don't wear g-strings but I do have daughter called Ellen - something in common then ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-71944896524831194122008-07-15T04:35:00.000+10:002008-07-15T04:35:00.000+10:00derekw: Please don't get me wrong, I am not sugges...derekw: Please don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting we shouldn't have research, but at the same time I do not think we should be completely closed to social media because I believe there is great work being done with it, even if it is not strictly 'research'. <BR/><BR/>Lisa: I'll have you know I tell my students they are not allowed to wear g-strings that show - very unprofessional! :)Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-15567076767846627882008-07-14T02:19:00.000+10:002008-07-14T02:19:00.000+10:00I am wondering what these institutions have to hid...I am wondering what these institutions have to hide and why they would want to censor blogs. Next thing they will have to chose your underwear.Lisa Barretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04161928233695371911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-56439883269707854042008-07-13T14:52:00.000+10:002008-07-13T14:52:00.000+10:00Thanks for this very thoughtful and comprehensive ...Thanks for this very thoughtful and comprehensive post, Sarah. The issues you have raised are applicable to many of the contexts I work in - let along midwifery. Must confess I'm torn on the research issue - seems to me that while research is always an important dimension of the work we do, in the case of the adoption of social media the focus should be more on finding effective (and innovative) ways of demonstrating how this media is being and can be used safely and appropriately. It's a bit like the introduction of the motor car - while just a few questioned the need for such a contraption, the majority of effort went into designing safe systems for the increasing numbers of these vehicles to use the roads together (along with pedestrians). Social media we're at a similar stage, needing to define the "rules" and patterns of behaviour we must collectively and individually abide by to ensure the concerns about safety and security etc are mitigated.Derekwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13819386576409520232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-73968455399807117492008-07-13T08:53:00.000+10:002008-07-13T08:53:00.000+10:00As far as research & projects go, Merrolee & Angel...As far as research & projects go, Merrolee & Angela, I'd be really keen for us to combine and look at cross-discipline social networking.Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-18531593948463854272008-07-13T08:52:00.000+10:002008-07-13T08:52:00.000+10:00Your comment, Merrolee, leaves me with a question ...Your comment, Merrolee, leaves me with a question about the chicken and egg. On one hand we're saying that we need research to show our institutions that blogging etc is a powerful learning tool. Yet, we know from our personal experience (which is a form of research)that it is so. So do we wait for the 'research' before we integrate blogging etc into our teaching or do we do it now because we 'know' how powerful it is?Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-30059845901201165452008-07-12T19:00:00.000+10:002008-07-12T19:00:00.000+10:00Hi SarahA thought provoking approach and I can onl...Hi Sarah<BR/>A thought provoking approach and I can only follow up from Angela's comment - clearly we need to move quickly from what we are doing and finding and thinking about into undertaking research which will hopefully support what we are all finding individually! <BR/><BR/>I also wonder if this is the old-age argument about 'who owns the knowledge' therefore who has the right to determine who can do what and say what? <BR/><BR/>Hmm..... like you Sarah I'm lucky to be in an open environment where our activities are accepted, not driven underground.Merroleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08920248569610912062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-69566873870616491412008-07-12T09:03:00.000+10:002008-07-12T09:03:00.000+10:00Hi Sarah, to be honest, I do not know all the deta...Hi Sarah, to be honest, I do not know all the details, I am talking in a generic way. This post was not meant to be a comment on individual cases & may be there are some causes for concern. But I still think it would be good for us all to work together so that learning is enhanced in a safe, productive way.<BR/><BR/>Angela: Thanks for your comment. I think I am very lucky to be working in an institution that encourages online communication, blogging and the like. It must be very frustrating to work in a less 'open' environment. <BR/><BR/>It is tricky, I must admit. I am conscious that I am not blogging on behalf of my employer or the midwifery profession. And there is a good chance that my employer may not wholly agree with what I say. I try to keep my comments generic but my working, professional and personal life, experiences and thoughts are so thoroughly integrated that it is hard to separate them all out. Any tips on how to manage this would be gratefully received.Sarah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00480597227427423793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-22549488361176932162008-07-11T22:10:00.000+10:002008-07-11T22:10:00.000+10:00Hi Sarah,I TOTALLY agree that to drive anything un...Hi Sarah,<BR/>I TOTALLY agree that to drive anything underground is asking for trouble, but what exactly are these midwives doing that is so unacceptable? Is it a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut? It seems king of like disciplining a whole class because the behavior of one child was unacceptable.<BR/>Rant over!<BR/>SarahAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-652950132925204088.post-49691322967344888542008-07-11T21:56:00.000+10:002008-07-11T21:56:00.000+10:00Hi SarahA very thought provoking post and indicati...Hi Sarah<BR/>A very thought provoking post and indicative of the dichotomy of thought that seems to be around at the moment. As a fellow professional (OT) over in the UK who has been blogging now for about a year I wholeheartedly support the value of both the social networking and indeed the sharing of knowledge, thoughts and ideas that occurs on line. As you know our blogging here has resulted in a couple of successful projects with our colleagues from NZ, USA and UK - demonstrating the value I think?<BR/>Of course we need to be explicit in the netiquette of an on line presence - but as health professionals this is not really that much different to our code of conduct in our other professional activities.<BR/>We have been successful so far in gaining the tentative trust of our University to identify the establishment in our blog.<BR/>I guess the more involved in conducting research into the value of social networking to CPD,LLL and the impact on EBP etc the better - oh no - I feel another project coming on...!!!!Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04020158010421360396noreply@blogger.com