Publishing with Friends: Exploring Social Networks to Support Photo Publishing Practices

Abstract

Publishing with friends is the account of an action research cycle in which a print-on-demand Web site, Lulu.com, became a classroom for second and third year digital photography students to publish their photobooks. Building on the earlier use of a blogging platform as a personal learning environment, this narrative explores the pedagogical prospects of the read/write Web, and illustrates the way in which students use social networks for creative produsage (Bruns, 2008). Students were positive about the pedagogical approach, and the opportunities to gain valuable hands-on experience in their chosen field of study.