[p2p-research] Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Possibilities?

[Michel Bauwens]

Hi James,

very interesting what you are doing, could we start perhaps with publishing
a report on your model and initiative (including the brazil experience?),
and you may consider writing for daniel (in cc)'s volume on peer learning,

we can also skype but after June 15, as I'm on a lecture tour with
preciously little online time ... my handle is p2pfound1

what other kinds of cooperation do you have in mind,

Michel

On Wed, May 5, 2010 at 6:02 PM, James Wallbank <jw at access-space.org> wrote:

> Hello Michel,
>
> I picked up on the existence of the P2P Foundation from Bronac Feren on the
> "Paralelo" mailing list, and thought it was urgent for me to get in touch.
>
> I'm very interested to hear more about the P2P Foundation. If it's what I
> think it might be, I wonder whether we could and should work together.
>
> Why?
>
> I run Access Space Network, which is a UK arts, education and regeneration
> charity. Our principal action is running Access Space, a community media lab
> which supports a peer-learning community. It's been open for more than 10
> years now, which makes it the longest-running free, open access ICT learning
> centre in the UK.
>
> Critical to our longevity has been our model, which suggests that the
> principal mechanism for knowledge transfer is peer learning. Each
> participant is engaged in their own, self-directed projects, and we
> facilitate participants with similar interests and complimentary skills to
> talk with each other. We also encourage "do-it-yourself" methodologies,
> supporting participants to provide their own ICT infrastructure by
> rebuilding recycled computers with free, open source software (another
> peer-developed system). Our peer learning model has been informed by the
> ideas and ideals of the free software movement.
>
> (Yes, you read that right - the most sustainable ICT learning centre in the
> UK runs Linux and encourages participants to learn from and teach each
> other.)
>
> We're now convinced that this model has significant implications for ICT
> learning, community engagement and economic and social regeneration.
> Sheffield, the city where we're based, has been in a post-industrial crisis
> of skills, employment and population shrinkage.
>
> I've been very interested in similar models which have emerged in Brasil -
> particularly offshoots of the Metareciclagem Network. I'm hoping we can
> develop an international research project which links the topics of "ICT for
> Development" and "ICT for Urban Regeneration".
>
> Are there common lessons and methods which communities attempting to
> (re)empower themselves with ICT can share? Are there common traps and
> dead-ends? Can diverse, community level organisations form their own
> international network of sustainable practice and critical engagement with
> technology? Could this manifest to form a grassroots, global critique of
> corporate and governmental ICT strategies?
>
> Anyway, if this, or any related topics sound of interest (and/or you can
> see ways that the Access Space community might play a useful part in
> existing research projects) please do get in touch.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> James
> =====
>
> --
> James Wallbank
> CEO, Access Space Network Ltd.
> Access Space, Unit 1, AVEC Building, 3-7 Sidney St, Sheffield S1 4RG
> Access Space is UK Registered Charity: #1103837
> Tel: +44 (0)114 2495522
> Fax: +44 (0)114 2495533
> Web: http://access-space.org
>



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