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[Recent Study Indicates] Social Media is Necessary for Colleges & Universities

August 25 2011  |   jonathan@sms  |  Social Media 4 Higher Edu.  |  Comment

Over the past few years, social media has been an option for higher education institutions. Facebook pages and Twitter accounts helped colleges and universities reach a bigger audience; it was more practical than sending out a mass e-mail message. As time progressed, schools began to realize that if they wanted to reach their target market, they needed to be present in the popular hangouts—the hangouts being Facebook and Twitter. Now, according to a recent study conducted by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, higher education now considers social media as necessary for student recruitment.

In 2007, 456 colleges & universities, of varying sizes, were interviewed regarding their social media use. At that time, 61% of the polled institutions claimed to have some type of presence on social media. Now, in 2011, those same schools were interviewed and the results indicate100% are using social media. The question then becomes—are they using it effectively?

The majority of colleges and universities indicate that they believe social media to be crucial for recruiting purposes. The study indicated 98% used Facebook; 84% used Twitter; 86% used YouTube; 47% used LinkedIn; and 8% used Myspace (an 8% decrease from the following year). Schools have also indicated social media has provided a new channel to communicate with students.

Source: BostInnovation

 

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VarsityMonitor—Helping Universities Keep Tabs on Athletes

August 2 2011  |   jonathan@sms  |  Social Media 4 Higher Edu.  |  Comment

Recently, the University of North Carolina received some negative publicity after the NCAA alleged that they were not doing a sufficient job monitoring the social media activity of their athletes. Since then, colleges and universities have been trying to figure out ways to keep an eye on their athletes’ Facebooks and Twitters. And for this problem, there may now be a solution.

VarsityMonitor is a new application developed by former Division-1 athletes to provide a way for educational institutions to meet the expectations of the NCAA, in regards to social media monitoring. The new technology features real time monitoring and makes data available through a web-based dashboard, mobile app, or e-mail/ text message. VarsityMonitor allows school administrators and coaches to know what potentially inappropriate content is being published as soon as possible.

For more information on VarsityMonitor, visit their website http://varsitymonitor.com.

Source: Benzinga

 

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Skype in the Classroom

July 21 2011  |   jonathan@sms  |  Social Media 4 Higher Edu.  |  Comment

Technology has come a long way since the days when instructors taught from an old-fashioned slide projector. If you think back really hard, you might even remember when a college foreign language class consisted of a blackboard, textbooks, and a room full of confused undergraduates. Those days are long gone and colleges/universities are now using social networking applications and making them relevant in the curriculum.

Twitter is for microblogging and to teach succinct writing; YouTube is used to display relevant content in video form; LinkedIn helps prepare students for the job search process—but what about Skype?

We all know about Skype. We know what Skype does—but how could it be beneficial in higher education? As Marquette University professor Janet Banhidi knows, Skype can be a great tool to engage students studying a foreign language. Banhidi connected her Spanish students with English students in South America via Skype video chats. The students’ weekly Skype sessions provided each member of the class a personal Spanish tutor. In Banhidi’s class, 85.3% of the students maintained a relationship with their Skype buddy via social media, specifically Facebook.

(Source: Mashable)

Skype also serves as a channel for online students to communicate with instructors and peers. Often, online students are not exempt from group assignments. Skype allows for these students to have engagement that is more personalized—compared to Facebook chat or AOL Instant Messenger.

With the use of video conferencing growing in business, it’s no surprise that professors are teaching students about Skype etiquette. It is not uncommon for a job interview to begin as a telephone appointment and then be followed by an employer’s unexpected request for a Skype session. A student must know how to use the application—and be able to look professional while doing it.

 

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College Lecture: In 140-Characters

July 20 2011  |   jonathan@sms  |  Social Media 4 Higher Edu.  |  Comment

Note passing in the middle of class is definitely an activity of the past. With social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter, students can send virtual notes with their iPhone. That said, we are aware of the obvious uses of Twitter; we know about hashtags and trends; we can mention and retweet. Now, let’s take a look at the use of Twitter in the college classroom.

Class Participation

When sitting in a 20-person discussion class, there is not much problem in asking a question or making a comment; however, when sitting in a 100, 200, 300-person lecture hall, the attempt to ask a question becomes much more frustrating. This was the problem observed by University of Texas professor, Monica Rankin. The history professor was having problems engaging with each student in her 90-person lecture. Rankin began using Twitter as a way for students to ask questions. When a student tweeted a question it would appear on a large screen in the front of the classroom. Rankin asserted that this technique resulted in participation from students who would not have otherwise.

(Source: U.S News)

In addition to simplifying classroom operations and increasing participation, Twitter in the classroom can help strengthen a student’s ability to write succinctly; it can facilitate sharing of notes, graphics, and notes (with the use of a specific hashtag); and it allows teachers to make one announcement and reach his or her entire class—whether that class has 20 people or 400.

Have you heard of any other interesting, innovative ways Twitter is being used in the classroom?

 

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Social Media Helping the Transition into College

July 12 2011  |   jonathan@sms  |  Social Media 4 Higher Edu.  |  Comment

The transition from high school to college is an exciting time in a student’s life; however, it can also be stressful. Often, incoming freshmen are enrolling at a school in an unfamiliar city—a school where they may not know anyone. Students have questions prior to their arrival on campus, but, with the number of departments on a typical college campus, finding answers can be a daunting task. Fortunately, social media has proven to have yet another benefit—assisting incoming freshman in the transition to college.

Purdue University has observed incoming freshman referring to Facebook pages to ask questions about classes and registration. Then, the student-to-student communication makes students feel more comfortable on their first day. Students come to class feeling like they already know someone. Now, Purdue University sets up a page for each incoming class, so students are able to ask questions and contribute to discussions.

While admission offices still use regular mail and e-mail to reach students, Facebook is seen as the most efficient way to communicate announcements and important dates to college students—seeing as this generation grew up with the internet and social media.

Additionally, social media allows students to learn about campus and their new city before move-in day. The groups also discuss subjects like housing, local eateries, and bars and nightspots.

Source: jconline.com

 

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