FREE in a digital society… How does one earn money?

I have been wondering this same thing for many days, weeks, months. 

In a FREE digital society, how does one earn money?

I heard about the figure and description (below) in a blog written by Kevin Kelly.  He has an uberblog combining all of his blogs together, but this is from his blog called Cool Tools.

The figure and quote below is from a book written by Chris Anderson, Free- The Future of a Radical Price.

[As always, the underlines, color changes, and bold type is mine, not the author’s.  I do this so often, I should probably put a disclaimer to this effect at the bottom of every blog!]

Chris Anderson says in Free- The Future of a Radical Price, “In Denmark, a gym offers a membership program where you pay nothing as long as you show up at least once a week. But miss a week and you have to pay full price for the month. The psychology is brilliant. When you go every week, you feel great about yourself and the gym. But eventually you'll get busy and miss a week. You'll pay, but you'll blame yourself alone. Unlike the usual situation where you pay for a gym you're not going to, your instinct is not to cancel your membership; instead it's to redouble your commitment.”

Kevin Kelly of Cool Tools blog says, “Free is tricky. Free is great for consumers but difficult for business and creators. It is becoming a serious economic force (thanks to digital technologies and automation) but no one is really sure how to use free to, well, make money.”

This reminds me of a situation I recently found myself in. 

I read many blogs. I enjoy reading them.  I read from a variety of blogs, although most of them have an education/technology bias.  One blog that is not in that category is about Marriage.  It is a good blog with lots of ideas and helpful comments, stimulating ideas!

Recently I read this Marriage blog and just about deleted it from my Reader.  I was furious! 

I even wrote a comment! I hardly ever, almost never, make a comment.  I might write about what I read in other people’s blogs in my blog, as a way to take the thoughts through my mind for processing.  I might occasionally say, “Hey, good blog!” but rarely do I make a negative comment.  Actually, I think this was the first!

This blog asked for readers to make a donation if they felt the blog was helpful. Say $25. Say only this year while I am trying to make my change from earning a living elsewhere to earning it with this blog. Say maybe only once every year!

So far, in the comments of others, only 1 other person agreed with me. 

Everyone else said,

“Good Luck with the change.” 

“Hope this leap of faith works out for you!” 

“When I can, I will send you money, but just can’t now, not today!”

I would like to know what others feel about this.

Do you expect to be solicited by the author of the blogs you read?

I am not talking about a blog author who wrote a book and promotes it on his blog, or who provides seminars or presentations and promotes them on his blog, or offers to consult with you privately about what he can do for you personally on his blog.  All of these are legitimate to me.   If you want that extra special piece of attention/help, PAY FOR IT!  That is fine. It is OK to advertise for that. Those interested will click on your link!  Those not interested, will just continue reading. 

If you don’t want your blog to be free and open, then don’t put it on the open internet. Make it by registration only after a fee has been paid!

Am I too upset by this?

Recently, I even looked at the tab on Blogger where it says monetize.  I didn’t go very far, but wondered if this was the “way” to earn my living on the web! 

I know several of the blogs I read do place ads on their blogs, and earn some small amount of money when readers click on these advertisements. 

I don’t criticize those who do this. (I am not sure, but I don’t think they earn very much by doing this; maybe only enough to pay for the yearly cost of the site maintenance if their blog is posted on a paying site.)

So far, I decided it was not for me.  I didn’t feel that my blog had a big enough readership (if any readership) and I didn’t feel that my thoughts were earth shattering. Most of what I post is a re-thinking of what I have read in other places - a directing of others to a good read.

In spite of all this, I do have a desire to make a living in a way that feeds my passions – education, technology, helping others, working with students, education, learning. 

I had also thought that somehow I could make this living with my passions on the internet, but in education nearly everything is open source, free. 

I’m still reading, thinking, learning, and imagining. Maybe someday, I will figure it all out.  In the meantime, I am enjoying the journey! (But not making any money!)

Technorati Tags: free,internet,money,earn a living,monetize,passions,education,technology tools,Free Digital Society,Cool Tools,Kevin Kelly,Chris Anderson,marriage,blog,Free: The Future of a Radical Price,Denmark gym,consumers,business,creators

Using Video to Engage the Learner...

The following slideshow created by Richard Bryne of Technology for Teachers has important information that all teachers need to know AND TEACH, particularly regarding copyright.

As teachers, we must teach our students that although it seems that everything is FREE on the internet, there are responsibilties to give credit when using other people's information. There are also guidelines and rules about how much we can use. Most students growing up in this environment do not realize the need for copyright. They do not seem to think it applies to them. It is our obligation as teachers in this 21st Century to make sure students learn these lessons well as their lives will be in and on the inernet.



What do you do in your classroom to teach these skills? What are the top skills in this area that MUST be taught?

Internet Filtering

There seems to be a great deal of "talk" on blogs about internet filters in schools.

The following bog post got me "fired up" about the subject
Technology in the Middle
The following quote is from that post (with bold portions made by me, not the author):
"To be clear, I am not opposed to using filters to help shield children from reprehensible websites, and fully appreciate that privacy and productivity are vital in the business world. However, the Ronco “set it and forget it” mantra is not a viable approach to filtering. We’re not preparing rotisserie chicken; we’re trying to prepare students to lead lives of service and purpose as they grow into adults capable of behaving ethically and responsibly online."

Of course there are pros and cons. No one wants a young child exposed to unecesssary inappropriate content. Of course teachers should be professional and technically competent enough to be allowed to access any site. Before elementary, middle school, and high school students have permission to use the internet, they need to be taught responsible and correct behavior appropriate to their age-level. As their responsibilty and knowledge about correct internet behavior increases, they should have more access to the internet.

Did you notice that I said "elementary" students, as well as middle school and high school? Teaching internet responsibility and etiquette starts as soon as a student starts using the computer... even at home with pre-schoolers.

Parents, also, have a responsibilitiy to educate their children in proper technology procedures and rules. Obviously, pre-schoolers do not have blanket access to the internet or all computer programs! When parents do not have technology access or technology savvy, then they need to call upon others with more knowledge. They need to find resources that will help them. Sometimes, parents' first internet and technology exposure is when their children go to school.

What do you think? What filters are necessary for which age levels? What about teaching parents how to teach their children these skills? Can there be classes at school for this? How does your school solve this quandry? What is your school's internet filtering policy? its Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)?

What are your thoughts?