Finding Identity and Networking, same thing?

As the semester draws to an end and my peers (from CI597) and I go our separate ways, I find that our identity is forever changed.  Throughout this semester, we have actively been involved in discussion and group work.  We have taken past experiences and related them to concepts and theories from class.  We have decided how and when to use our energy to enhance class discussion and group projects.  We have participated in all three of Wenger’s modes of belonging.  In "Communities of Practice", Etienne Wenger discusses three modes of belonging that form one's identity.  1. Engagement or active involvement.  2. Imagination or seeing connections in our lives through past experiences. 3. Alignment or choosing where to use our energy (1998).  

Before I get to my conjecture that identity and networking are the same thing, I want to side step and talk about alignment:

Alignment is the mode that most interests me.  How do I choose to use my energy?  For the past 48 hours I have spent about 20 of them making a project for a workshop I am giving this Wednesday.   The project was not for any of my classes, however, it still was high on my priority list.  Why?  Well, I wanted to create a database web-application that would help my peers learn about databases and want to invest their energy in the same way.  Also, it was fun and challenging.  I find that these two qualities of a project often provide for the best learning environments.  If the project was not as fun as I thought it was, I am certain I instead would have only spent half the amount of time on it.  Also, if it was not at first challenging, there would not have been as much personal satisfaction at the end of completing it.  A sample of the project is available at http://workshop.msw-is.com/teacherSiteOnLine.html.  A few of the qualities of alignment that Wenger discusses are finding one's view or common ground, being a boundary for communities, and developing a focus (1998).  When I present my workshop on Wednesday on Databases, I will become a boundary between the technical side of computer databases and the educational goals and knowledge of the participants.  BTW, Anyone reading this is welcome to attend:  Keller 313, 4/9/2008, @ 1-3 P.M.  Email me at mrook@psu.edu to RSVP.

Wenger says that identity is formed through identification (choice) and negotiability (adoption).   We choose to engage ourselves with and meet certain people but we also negotiate our identities in many different communities.  Others choose to interact with us and help us form an identity in our communities.  This sounds a lot like networking.  I will define networking as engaging others to advance our career.  Finding an identity is not much different.  Wenger points out that power is a part of finding identity.  Identity is in a way social empowerment.  By choosing to engage others in conversation and brokering and being boundaries across learning communities, we are forming our identity AND networking. 

Why is my identity forever changed after leaving CI597?  I have formed relationships with others involved in CI597 that will lead to my involvement in other communities (Gaming Commons with Bart Pursel), social events (enjoying trivia night at Otto's with my group), and research projects (PSU's ePortfolio). 

Although I initially joined the CI597 learning communities for acquisiition of knowledge, I find that with an open mind and alignment of energy, I have found opportunities for creation of knowledge that have far exceeded my expectations.  Thank you CI597 teachers, peers.