Steven Milstein’s Blog Onboarding folks onto social software, 10 minutes at a time.

Apparently, it’s much simpler to use Social Software than explain it

Some of us folks in the social software field need to take a lesson from 11 year-olds & Steve Jobs.

Apple Specialists are at the heart of our reputation for extraordinary customer service. You love people. Have an encyclopedic knowledge of all things Apple. And can translate technology-speak into everyday language. You’re ready to not just serve up information, but also inspire the next generation of Mac, iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV fans.

- Job posting for an Apple (Store) Specialist & the Steve Jobs philosphy of why a customer should care

In my previous post - Early social software adopters eager for extra homework, I bragged about how quickly and effortlessly Sara's Grade 6 class not just adopted, but embraced their new social software site. But this week, was about The Project & actually working in their Deliverables - modifying Cynapse's Best Practices Guide For Elementary School Students.

Sample comments posted on their interim deliverables

I don't get "getting feedback on interim deliverables"
Mayby you can shorten the text to make it seem less,... daunting.
i don't get it ????????????
What does surfacing and interim mean?
I guess it makes sense, but 1/4 of your day is a pretty long time - 3-4 hours' worth!
What does fragmented mean?
What is RSS?
What's IDC?
What's 2.0 enterprises?
Kids usually don't care about publishing!
2.0?????????????
What is tacit knowledge

-- from Collaboration - What is it and Why is it needed ?

what does infrastructure mean?
What is this adopting, exactly?
What's facilitate and aggregate.
well what are we talking about?

-- from Driving Adoption

Can you reply to their comments, like an Apple Store Specialist - translating technology-speak into everyday language 11 and 12 year-olds can understand?

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