Departments as a whole should not dismiss the benefits of social networking. Higher education administrators use online social networking primarily recruiting students. However, they are useful for much more.
For example, I think online marketing is better than traditional mail outs such as brochures, newsletters and e-mails. It is less expensive, easier to produce and to distribute. And depending on the target audience, it is more affective. Students often throw away "junk" mail from colleges or universities, but they are likely to browse through a department's Web site, social media or its online photo gallery. I would target paper brochures to an older demographic such as grandparents or parents.
Students always benefit from writing-and blogging gives them the opportunity to write in a pleasurable format. I often have my students blog about a specific topic, an exercise most enjoy because they would prefer blogging to listening to long, boring lectures. I also utilize Facebook to create a page for my courses and to chat with students who have questions about a project or just need a few minutes of my time versus stopping by for an office visit. This works great for students who spend hours on social networking sites anyway. Students may also use social networking outlets to add flair to their online portfolios. My students often copy and paste pictures and content from existing social networks and add them to their multimedia project. They also include links to their social networking sites, which offers potential employers a peak at information about their background, hobbies, etc.
I encourage students to store all of their work samples in one place and to demonstrate their creativity with online projects. This information comes in handy when they begin to search for a job. For example, a student with good photography skills may post samples of his or her work on Flickr or YouTube and invite recruiters to look at them.
Some professors may believe that an online portfolio is not as good as a traditional one; however, I believe both are necessary in today's multimedia environment. Some employers want hard copies of resumes while others prefer an online format. Students should be prepared to provide both based on the type of job they are seeking. I also use social networking exercises as an opportunity to discuss the importance of having appropriate content on social media sites. I remind students that in a professional context, social networks should contain information about their experience, education, interests, affiliations, skills, etc. I warn them that social networks are not the place to include photos of them drinking heavily or partying hard. They should definitely remove such content during a job hunt. Many employers make decisions based on a person's online image.
One thing to keep in mind before jumping on the social media bandwagon is to assess departmental goals before selecting one social network over another. Although social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, which both target high school and college students, are the most popular, other professionally focused online networks are available for educators.For instance, professors may find a home on LinkedIn, a business-orientated social networking site mainly used for professional networking. The site allows registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know in the business world.
Personal social networks may also be created for departments that don't want to join larger social networks. It is fairly easy to register a domain, start a web-hosting account, and build a social networking Web site from the ground up. Simple applications such as Ning offer a platform that enable users to create their own site free. Or with little effort, Web designers may also set up an independent social network, which consists of a Web page with updates and updated news and a main page linked to chat rooms, forums, photo file sharing and blogs.
People are highly likely to visit a site that is relevant to them and contains photos of them and colleagues. For this reason, online social networks may also prove useful for fund-raising. For example, colleges looking to raise scholarship funds might use Facebook to organize an open event such as a coffee or departmental barbecue to inform potential donors and to get feedback.
Even with the drawbacks of social networking, I believe it is obvious that the benefits are far greater. These are just some of the examples of how new media are leveling the playing field for colleges and universities globally. Undoubtedly, social media are a necessity for colleges and universities to communicate effectively with today's students.
Mia Moody has more than 20 years of journalism experience. She worked as a general assignment reporter, staff writer, columnist, managing editor, blogger and publisher before becoming an assistant professor of journalism at Baylor University in 2001. She received degrees from Texas A&M University, Baylor University and the University of Texas, Austin.
For example, I think online marketing is better than traditional mail outs such as brochures, newsletters and e-mails. It is less expensive, easier to produce and to distribute. And depending on the target audience, it is more affective. Students often throw away "junk" mail from colleges or universities, but they are likely to browse through a department's Web site, social media or its online photo gallery. I would target paper brochures to an older demographic such as grandparents or parents.
Students always benefit from writing-and blogging gives them the opportunity to write in a pleasurable format. I often have my students blog about a specific topic, an exercise most enjoy because they would prefer blogging to listening to long, boring lectures. I also utilize Facebook to create a page for my courses and to chat with students who have questions about a project or just need a few minutes of my time versus stopping by for an office visit. This works great for students who spend hours on social networking sites anyway. Students may also use social networking outlets to add flair to their online portfolios. My students often copy and paste pictures and content from existing social networks and add them to their multimedia project. They also include links to their social networking sites, which offers potential employers a peak at information about their background, hobbies, etc.
I encourage students to store all of their work samples in one place and to demonstrate their creativity with online projects. This information comes in handy when they begin to search for a job. For example, a student with good photography skills may post samples of his or her work on Flickr or YouTube and invite recruiters to look at them.
Some professors may believe that an online portfolio is not as good as a traditional one; however, I believe both are necessary in today's multimedia environment. Some employers want hard copies of resumes while others prefer an online format. Students should be prepared to provide both based on the type of job they are seeking. I also use social networking exercises as an opportunity to discuss the importance of having appropriate content on social media sites. I remind students that in a professional context, social networks should contain information about their experience, education, interests, affiliations, skills, etc. I warn them that social networks are not the place to include photos of them drinking heavily or partying hard. They should definitely remove such content during a job hunt. Many employers make decisions based on a person's online image.
One thing to keep in mind before jumping on the social media bandwagon is to assess departmental goals before selecting one social network over another. Although social networks such as MySpace and Facebook, which both target high school and college students, are the most popular, other professionally focused online networks are available for educators.For instance, professors may find a home on LinkedIn, a business-orientated social networking site mainly used for professional networking. The site allows registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know in the business world.
Personal social networks may also be created for departments that don't want to join larger social networks. It is fairly easy to register a domain, start a web-hosting account, and build a social networking Web site from the ground up. Simple applications such as Ning offer a platform that enable users to create their own site free. Or with little effort, Web designers may also set up an independent social network, which consists of a Web page with updates and updated news and a main page linked to chat rooms, forums, photo file sharing and blogs.
People are highly likely to visit a site that is relevant to them and contains photos of them and colleagues. For this reason, online social networks may also prove useful for fund-raising. For example, colleges looking to raise scholarship funds might use Facebook to organize an open event such as a coffee or departmental barbecue to inform potential donors and to get feedback.
Even with the drawbacks of social networking, I believe it is obvious that the benefits are far greater. These are just some of the examples of how new media are leveling the playing field for colleges and universities globally. Undoubtedly, social media are a necessity for colleges and universities to communicate effectively with today's students.
Mia Moody has more than 20 years of journalism experience. She worked as a general assignment reporter, staff writer, columnist, managing editor, blogger and publisher before becoming an assistant professor of journalism at Baylor University in 2001. She received degrees from Texas A&M University, Baylor University and the University of Texas, Austin.