The BIGWIG Social Software Showcase, a free, mostly online learning opportunity that just happens to be embedded in the 2007 ALA Annual Festival of Totebags looks like a winner. I say that even without knowing exactly what they plan on covering because I trust the BIGWIG bigwigs (Michelle Boule, Karen Coombs, and Jason Griffey) as well as the folks they have recruited to present.

In fact, not knowing exactly what they’ll be presenting is part of the point of this, as the BIGWIG folks were frustrated at the idea of planning an “emerging technology” program a year in advance. Looks like presenter K. G. Schneider isn’t even sure what she’s going to present, and in this instance, that’s probably a good thing.

The organizers mention HigherEd BlogCon and Five Weeks to a Social Library as inspirations/precursors to this event. I was a presenter for both of those online events, and I think they went well; I’m not involved in this new one (though I’m sure I’ll check in on most if not all of the presentations) and I wish them success.

All three of these events (HEBC, 5 Weeks, and now BIGWIG) have social software not only as the mode of instruction, but also as the subject matter. I think it will be an exciting day when people start to use these online environments for sessions that have little or nothing to do with technology.