social @ edu

Exploring strategies for social media in higher education

Archive for the month “July, 2012”

29 Jul 2012
23 Comments

Another Take: Gamification in Education – It’s Not Always About Winning

This week, I’m completing our second “Take Two,” a back-to-back series of blog entries between me and  Shannon, with my take on gamification in education as part of our Olympic theme.  To see the first entry, check out Take Two: It’s Not Just About Winning in the Olympics – Lessons for Higher Education.

This weekend, the city of London opened itself up to the world and kicked off the 2012 Olympic Games.  I’ve been glued to my TV ever since.  (I also came across this handy website that allows you to find out when each event is being shown on your local network: Olympic TV schedule - enjoy).  The Olympic Games are such an inspiring example of international unity, and hearing the stories of Olympians are sometimes even more amazing.  Their journeys are full of discipline, passion, and learning.  There are so many lessons that can be applied to higher education, but I want to focus on one that has been trending up lately: gamification in education, specifically using social media.  Let’s take a closer look.

What is gamification?

Gamification is the use of game design techniques, game thinking, and game mechanics to enhance non-game contexts.  If I had to translate that very formal definition into an educational framework, I’d say gamification is adding incentive or external motivation to promote action.

About gamification in education

Of course, since there has been a lot of hype about gamifying lately, there also comes some speculation, and some appropriate thoughts at that.  On the other hand, a recent whitepaper published by MIT called “Moving Learning Games Forward” makes a case for educational games and learning through play.  Below is an infographic that helps to highlight some major takeaways from the paper.  Some food for thought comes in the first quote mentioned: “Game players regularly exhibit persistence, risk-taking, attention to detail and problem-solving, all behaviors that ideally would be regularly demonstrated in school.”

An infographic exploring gamification in education, summarizing MIT's whitepaper on the subject

A great visual summary of MIT’s whitepaper on gamification in education. Click the image to be taken to the original blog entry where I found this graphic.

About gamification on social media

In a recent study detailing why people follow brands, it was revealed that approximately 37% of people follow brands on Facebook for “Special Offers/Deals” and 43.5% have similar motivations for following a brand on Twitter.  Further, 70% of the respondents in the study reported that they have participated in a brand-sponsored contest or sweepstakes.  The motivation and evidence are there: people want to be engaged in “gaming” via social channels.

Examples of gamification in higher education

We’re all just getting started here, but there are some very interesting developments already taking place.  Here are a few:

  • Penn State developed an “Educational Gaming Commons” to bring games into teaching & learning.  Many examples there.
  • Educause’s paper, “7 Things You Should Know About Gamification,” discusses how Dartmouth used gaming to help students and archivists tag thousands of photos for researchers and offers another cautionary note about gamification
  • Seven of the Ivy+ alumni associations are currently engaged in the “Alumpics” where they’ll each post an alumni-related photo on their Facebook Pages.  The university with the most Likes on the picture will win the gold.

Personally, I think there’s potential to gamify with educational goals in mind when it’s done right, whether it’s promoting learning or growing an affinity to your university.  I, for one, will be experimenting with the idea more this year, and I think using social media is one fantastic way to do it.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts or examples of gamification in education in the Comments and let’s play!

By Kevin

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Take Two and tagged , , ,
26 Jul 2012
10 Comments

How Universities Can Use Social Media for Fundraising

We’re excited to introduce another feature to social @ edu: guest bloggers.  Recognizing that there are many others out there in the higher ed community doing amazing things with social media, we’re reaching out to our networks to ask them to contribute their thoughts to the discussion.  Do you want to guest blog for social @ edu?  Contact Kevin or Shannon and let us know what you’d like to discuss.

Our first guest blogger is Dan Klamm, Assistant Director of Digital & Social Media at Syracuse University.  In this role, Dan oversees the student team responsible for the implementation of the university’s social media strategy. Dan has contributed articles to the leading technology blog Mashable and has presented extensively in the community about professional uses of social media. To connect with Dan, contact him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

It’s no secret that universities can leverage social media to get prospective students excited about their programs, to engage current students in the classroom, and to keep alumni feeling nostalgic. But can platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube really drive donations? Can social media be used strategically to support university fundraising campaigns?

The answer is yes.

Though most schools recognize the importance of having a social media presence, not all have aligned their social media strategy to support larger business objectives, such as fundraising.

Here are three ideas for using social media to help with university fundraising activity:

Listen carefully — and do something with what you hear

Every day, alumni and students offer a variety of insights about themselves and their connection to your school on your university’s Facebook page, across Twitter, through LinkedIn groups, and a variety of other social media platforms. Some might identify their favorite buildings on-campus, their most prized memories from college, or the activity that meant the most to them at their alma mater. An astute community manager will reply to these comments with a warm message, but what else can be done?

Forward-thinking schools have systems in place to mine social media interactions into their alumni database. This helps tailor outreach. For instance, when an alumna shares on the university’s Facebook page that her favorite spot on campus is the fountain outside of the library because that’s where she met her husband in 1984, this information can be stored in her alumni profile. When the university reaches out the next year to solicit a donation, the request can be personalized based on her strong attachment to the fountain — perhaps she’d like to contribute $100 toward refinishing its exterior.

Through social media, alumni and students voluntarily share their interests, preferences, affinities, and feelings in connection with your school. Failing to mine this data is a missed opportunity.

Show the impact of gifts

One of the most common reasons why people don’t give money is that they’re unsure how their donations will be used. Giving $500 to a “general fund” can feel like throwing money into a black hole, while giving $500 to help a student afford to spend a semester in London, or to buy a new piece of equipment for the science lab, can feel like more tangible contributions. Social media can be leveraged to show people that their donations have real, specific impact.

Schools like Carleton University and University of South Carolina have developed “thank you” videos on YouTube  — messages from students to donors expressing gratefulness and showcasing the end impact of gifts. Some schools have created more splashy videos to demonstrate the value of gifts, such as Bowling Green State University’s “Stroh Center Rap.” This week, Syracuse University (my alma mater and employer) launched a live cam of the construction site for its new law school  — what better way to recognize the impact of dollars than seeing minute-by-minute progress of a new initiative!

Don’t forget to acknowledge the tangible impact of $25 or $50 gifts. While it’s easy to recognize the impact of $1 million, it’s sometimes more difficult (yet crucial) for regular donors to see the importance of their donations.

Empower students and alumni to raise money

University fundraising is a process usually led by professional staff, but putting students and alumni in the driver’s seat can produce great results. They have broad personal networks that can be leveraged, as well as an intense loyalty and passion for their university. The key is to give them the necessary tools to become a more active part of the fundraising process.

One successful example is Middlebury College’s Middstart, an online platform similar to Kickstarter that allows Middlebury students to “find the funding they need to explore their interests through creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative projects.” Students post project descriptions and dollars needed (vetted by Middlebury’s Advancement team), and donors choose interesting projects to support. By doing this, Middlebury takes the institution’s administration out of the equation and creates a more direct, personal link between students and donors.

Another approach is simply to make social sharing easier. When an alum donates money, he/she might want to display a badge on his Facebook profile or send a tweet encouraging his/her friends to give, too. It’s in the university’s best interest to facilitate this action.

Have you been successful with using social media for fundraising? What ideas do you have? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Posted by Social @ Edu Guest Contributor in Guest Post and tagged , , ,
25 Jul 2012

Awesome Article Alert: “Social media is more than simply a marketing tool for academic research”

Do you wish the faculty at your campus would embrace social media?  Well, this refreshing article from The Guardian’s Higher Education Network may help plead your case.  In Amanda Alampi’s article, “Social media is more than simply a marketing tool for academic research“, she interviewed faculty to discover how they utilize Twitter, Pinterest and even Storify (a personal favorite of mine) to enhance their research and reach new audiences.

While this article reviews platforms many of us savvy social media users are well aware of, it is wonderful to hear how faculty are using these platforms and to present their perspective.  My favorite line is: “Learning through social networking platforms allows a researcher to be a lifelong student.”  This is the reason why I enjoy these platforms so much, and I hope the stories in this article can help show your faculty just how they can benefit too.

by Shannon

 

Posted by Shannon Kelly in Awesome Article Alert, Higher Education and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
23 Jul 2012
1 Comment

Take Two: It’s Not Just About Winning in the Olympics – Lessons for Higher Education

The Olympics begin soon, and over a hundred countries will come together in London for a common cause – to win.  In higher education today, there is a similar competition to win.  A contest to secure a spot among your peers in a college ranking system or a race to win resources, such as faculty or funding.  Yet, as the Olympics show, an international competition is not just about winning, it is about the importance of international solidarity.  Solidarity is especially critical in the current higher education climate.

Universities from around the world have worked together to address important issues, identify creative solutions and take on a more global approach.  NYU-Abu Dhabi is a prime example of a domestic institution’s international partnership to help educate citizens of another country and enhance the research and global experience of our own. There are also important examples of how international institutions have utilized social media, such as the UK’s Open University’s use of YouTube to deliver content freely.  This is similar to the recent launch of Coursera, where top universities deliver education to students around the world through videos and interactive chats.

The use of technology and socia media allow institutions around the world to connect and engage in meaningful discourse on a larger scale than ever before. LinkedIn has been critical to this development.  Groups like EDUCAUSE, NAFSA or the International Society for Technology in Education offer more meaningful and frequent interaction compared to traditional formats, like annual conferences.

These examples show how far our industry has come since the last summer Olympics.  There are more formal and informal partnerships around the globe.  Technology has been leveraged in very creative ways.  But, there is still a lot of ground to cover.  Because, rankings remain a top priority and a source of competition even among partners.  Institutions vy for the same faculty, students (especially from abroad) and funding from outside the government.

I hope as higher education professionals watch the Olympics next week they remember the games are more than just a competition. They are an opportunity for the world to come together and celebrate the talent each country can bring to the table.  That is an important lesson, and reminder, for us all.

by Shannon

Posted by Shannon Kelly in Higher Education, Take Two and tagged ,
19 Jul 2012

Awesome Article Alert: “Global Social Media Check-Up 2012″

If you’re into stats on social media utilization and SlideShare, hang on to your hat because this one is right up your alley.  Burson-Marsteller, a leading global public relations and communications firm, recently released their “Global Social Media Check-Up 2012” and published it to SlideShare.  You can click through pretty quickly, pick up some of the stunning stats about the growth of social networks, and learn how major international organizations are harnessing its power in their work.  Here are just a few points that I particularly enjoyed:

  • Twitter boasts 340 million tweets per day
  • 72 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute
  • The average Facebook page for global companies has increased in community size by 275% since 2010
  • Twitter is the most popular social network among global companies
  • Global companies have multiple accounts on networks to do different things like target geographic regions, target audiences for products, and recruit top talent

In case you missed the link, here is Burson-Marsteller’s “Global Social Media Check-Up 2012″ on SlideShare.  I know there are similar stats compiled out there for higher ed.  Do you have a resource that shows a “Higher Ed Check-Up 2012″ you can share?  Pass it along in a comment!

By

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Awesome Article Alert and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment
15 Jul 2012

3 Tips for Managing Your LinkedIn Group

In higher education, one of the greatest services we can provide to people in our community is a space to speak with each other about issues important to us.  Whether it’s a professor creating that opportunity in the classroom or an administrator opening up a dialogue at an event, discussion is a vital component to university life.  Thus, it makes good sense to create such forums everywhere we’re able, including through social media.  Personally, one of my favorite ways to do so is via a LinkedIn Group.

I’ve talked with lots of colleagues who manage a group on LinkedIn for various purposes, and we all have similar questions.  Nobody’s saying anything, so how do I encourage conversation?  What do I do if there’s too much spam or negativity?  What are my real responsibilities as the Group Manager?  While my tips won’t be bulletproof, I’d like to share some strategies I’ve seen really work for group management on LinkedIn.  The image below of the LinkedIn group manager’s suite, found by clicking on the “Manage” tab in your group, and text will guide the rest of this post.

The suite of management tools for a LinkedIn Group Manager

A screenshot of the Manager’s navigation bar on LinkedIn, with arrows pointing to areas I’ll discuss below.

1.) Set up Group Rules & Messaging Templates (see arrows 1 & 2).  This is one of the very first things I always suggest in group management.  Rules and Templates help establish a sense of the group’s culture for members both new and old.  The Rules also give you, the manager, the rights to moderate discussions and remove posts or people when necessary.  I’d recommend phrasing the Rules in a more positive tone (i.e. “We encourage members to…”) as opposed to negative (i.e. “Do not…” or “You are not permitted…”).  Assume people are responsible first, as this will encourage your best members to talk freely.  As for Templates, they are a great way to communicate a with potential new member at every step in the process, from their request to join to their acceptance or denial.  My tip: if your group is closed and you will decline people, make sure you explain why, politely, in your Decline message.  I’m always surprised by how many people are thankful for the explanation.

2.) Use the Manager’s Choice feature and Comment on Discussions.  Much more simply said: reward good conversations by promoting them.  You can make any Discussion “Manager’s  Choice” by clicking on its headline, then clicking the small typing above it which reads “Add to Manager’s Choice.”  We’d all do the same in a real life conversation together.  If someone brought up an important issue or point, we’d bring that into focus.  You can also elevate a Discussion on LinkedIn by simply commenting on it yourself, which will draw more attention to it.

3.) Send out Announcements on a regular basis (see arrow 3).  Announcements are a great way to bring people into your group.  An Announcement is a message that will be sent via LinkedIn to each group member’s email address and will be posted as a Discussion in your group.  As a manager, LinkedIn allows you to send an Announcement up to once per week.  That’s a good maximum, as it’s good to avoid being too “spammy” to members.  I like to think of this as another great way to facilitate your conversation in a group.  If something big is happening, make an Announcement.  Is there an event coming up where you might all meet in person?  Did you reach a milestone in your group?  Did a story just break in your industry?  These could all be “Announcement”-worthy topics.

How do you manage your LinkedIn Group?  What advice can you share to make it a great place to communicate?  We’d love to know what tips you have, too.

Posted by Kevin Grubb in LinkedIn and tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment
08 Jul 2012

Technology and the Taskforce: Room for Improvement in Academic Governance

With the recent resignation and reinstatement of the University of Virginia’s president, the higher education community was reminded of the trials and tribulations associated with academic governance.  Specifically, the aftermath of decisions related to modern challenges, as discussed in Kevin Kiley’s article on Inside Higher Ed.

There are great examples where technology has begun to address some of these challenges. Online classes serve distance learners, such as ifs School of Finance in the UK, to increase access.  Centralized social media hubs, like Hopkins Interactive at Johns Hopkins University, help students navigate campus resources to encourage success and build community.   Similar tools can be leveraged to address the challenges in academic governance, too.

When I hear academic governance, I think: committee, sub-committee, task force, working group, faculty senate, professional assembly, etc.  Do you have them on your campus? I sure do.  Each group serves a key function to institutional management.  They meet, discuss and implement changes.  Above all else, they generate buy-in among faculty and staff. This mechanism is a good thing, don’t get me wrong. However, they take up a lot of time. Faculty and staff do not have much of that anymore on the modern campus.  Clearly, as Kiley’s article indicates, governing boards feel the same way.

What can be done? For starters, create a centralized hub of existing committees and all their breakout groups.  If there are groups with overlapping missions, perhaps they can be merged.  Online chats, with or without video (e.g. Google+ Hangout), can cut down on in-person meetings.  These meetings should not be totally replaced, but think of how difficult it is to schedule around other meetings and the travel across campus (which is no fun when its 20 or 100 degrees).  Those are two fairly easy solutions that would reduce inefficiencies right away.

Institutions have created and implemented tools for their students, they can do it for faculty and staff.   This is the most critical population on campus, and they need to be better connected.  The innovative tools available can help an institution save time, money and, perhaps, their image in the eyes of their governing board, too.

by Shannon

Posted by Shannon Kelly in Food for Thought, Higher Education and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment

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