social @ edu

Exploring strategies for social media in higher education

Archive for the tag “higher ed”

12 May 2013
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A Year’s Worth of Social Media in Higher Education

It’s been exactly one year to the day since “social @ edu” first set out to explore social media in higher education.  Call us sentimental, but we can’t keep ourselves from thinking about all that’s happened during this time – on this blog, in social media, and in higher education.  From the incredible guests posts to Facebook going public to pressures mounting to keep tuition low while providing world class education, it’s been a tremendous ride.  Whether this is your first read of “social @ edu” or your tenth, thanks for joining us on the journey.

In the year ahead, we expect that social media will continue to be integrated deeply into higher education and will be a force in revolutionizing the way we teach and learn.  As such, we’re looking forward to continuing the conversation on this topic, with our eyes on a few specific ideas going forward:

  • MOOCs (massive open online courses) and their potential to disrupt higher education.  While it’s unclear how MOOCs will evolve, it is clear that there’s some potential in this movement.  And what about social media’s role?
  • Webinars, videos, and responsive websites.  As the need for mobile-friendly sites and on-demand learning increases, higher education needs to be aware of these things.  While we may not look at those three things as “social media,” it’s important to broaden our look at higher education to incorporate other emerging technologies as well.  Of course, social media can be a part of these too.
  • Reputation management tools for social media.  With social media, “personal” and “professional” identities are harder to separate than they are in real life.  New sites like BrandYourself, Reppler, and Qnary have come out to offer individuals suggestions or help in creating a professional online presence.  Where are the place for these going forward?  We have our career services hats on for this one.
  • Visual identity. Tumblr, Pinterest, and Instagram grew in popularity this past year, and their momentum is not slowing down anytime soon. How will universities address the visual demands created by these platforms as part of a modern  social media strategy?
  • International trends and best practices. Increases in student mobility, study abroad and international branch campuses have created an environment where it’s critical to collaborate with institutions around the globe. What can we learn from one another? How can we partner through social media and technology? We are excited to welcome more international perspectives here, and identify tools to facilitate these partnerships.

And, of course, we’re looking forward to talking with you, on and offline.  We’ve been fortunate to meet, consult, and speak with many of you since the start of this blog.  We’d love to keep that going, and invite you to contact us anytime.

If you know us at all, you knew this was coming… what do you think?  What are ideas in social media and higher education you are thinking about for the year ahead?  Maybe we can tackle them together!

Thank you for your readership, your comments, and for inspiring us to keep moving forward.  We look forward to more of it all with you.

- Kevin & Shannon

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Introductions and tagged , , , , , ,
27 Mar 2013
1 Comment

Guest Post: On The Importance of Finding Your Voice

We’ re on a roll with fantastic guest bloggers, and so this week we bring you Megan Wolleben.  Megan is an Assistant Director at the Bucknell University Career Development Center and manages all the social media and student marketing for the office. She also hates the word “commence.”  To connect with Megan, check her out LinkedIn & Twitter 

Megan Wolleben being authentically Megan

In the spirit of authenticity and finding your voice, the pic for this post is Megan Wolleben herself, just being herself.

We say it all the time, “just be yourself.” Whether we are prepping students for interviews or career fairs, it seems to be our mantra:  “just be yourself.”  And it’s just as important for those of us in Higher Ed to remember:  just be yourself.

If 2012 was the year of #yolo, 2013 seems to be shaping up to be all about authenticity. In a world of self-publishing, sharing itty-bitty details of your life, and Instgramming your every bite it is no surprise that being authentic has come to be the number one rule of marketing. But what does being authentic have to do with higher education and, more specifically, career services? The answer in two words: a lot. We are dealing with an audience that doesn’t always want to hear our message, and yet we are dealing with messages worth hearing.  Perhaps students aren’t ready to talk about career, maybe we sound too parental, or maybe they fell asleep while listening to us drone on about “the importance of real world experience,” – just say internships! How many times have you felt like the teacher from Peanuts “wah-wah-wah”?

Blogs, and social media in general, allow for an authentic voice and I think it is really important that we (higher education professionals) use these mediums to find ours and take advantage.  Not only because we will have more fun doing it but because when it comes to influencers, online blogs rule.  Technorati’s “2013 Digital Influence Report”, revealed that blogs are some of the most powerful influencers, above Facebook and Twitter.  Although Technorati’s study was aimed at marketers and brands we can relate the information to us –we are still talking about behavior. Behavior that causes someone to visit a blog about a product is the same behavior that will cause someone to look for a blog about job searching or interviewing (i.e. career services) and wouldn’t it be nice if they found yours … and liked it!

We need to let our hair down and be human.  We need to be engaging in how we say things.  We need to find our style, our voice. What we have to say has not changed, but the only way students are going to listen is if we say it in a more fun way. I know it’s tough getting old and out of touch with the younger generation but don’t be afraid to use the cultural references that you know.  I once wrote a post about our “steps to success” series workshops with the title “Teach Me How To Dougie,” and yes I do know how to dougie.

We are no longer held to that (somewhat) stuffy university voice of old – the one that wears tweed jackets (nothing against tweed – I love a good elbow patch!). If you can’t remember what that voice was watch an episode of Downton Abbey and you will remember.  Blogs, social media, the world – they are all working to change the common voice and the old voice of higher education needs to change with it; we need to change with it.

I can be the first one to tell you that being witty every day can be challenging, and I’m not suggesting that you must do it every day. All it takes is an occasional display that we remember that we are talking to students, many of which are under 20 years old, who will grow up to thank us for teaching them metaphysics or how to dress for an interview but first really just want to discuss the fact that Bucknell was mentioned on Pretty Little Liars!

It can be exhausting to try to keep up, and I’m not suggesting we start watching Pretty Little Liars every week. I definitely think you need to be true to yourself, and, here is where I tie it all back to my opening line “just be yourself,” be authentic. I am a self-proclaimed dork and the students that read our blog know this.  I profess my love for NPR about once a week. I don’t try to deny that.  I embrace it. When I watch a movie and some aspect reminds me of career advice you better believe I’m going to write a post about it.  And just so you can mark your calendars: on June 7th Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn will be staring in a movie called “The Internship.”  I am already following the movie on Twitter and on Facebook!

To be heard we need to be culturally relevant and one thing that helps is taking your life and what is happening in the world, mixing it all with a bit of pop culture and adding in some career advice! So don’t be afraid to find your voice and start using it.

And if you haven’t realized it by now – my title was meant to be ironic!

For more on blogs & influence, check out: http://blog.sysomos.com/2013/03/11/when-it-comes-to-digital-influencers-blogs-rule/

Posted by Social @ Edu Guest Contributor in Food for Thought, Guest Post, Higher Education, Strategy and tagged , , , , , , , ,
25 Mar 2013
3 Comments

6 Ways Social Media Has Changed Students’ Expectations

While working on a project for a potential client this week, I got lost in a train of thought about social media and expectations.  There have been a few studies I’ve stumbled upon in the past that talk about things like “what Facebook does to your brain” or “how Pinterest influences shopping decisions.”  I find all of these fascinating.  Naturally, I’m interested in making ties back to education, which leads me to the following question I’ve been reflecting on: what are ways that social media has changed students’ expectations?  Here’s the list of thoughts, examples, and questions I scribbled (and now, typed):

1.) Information in an instant – One could argue that widespread high-speed internet access and wireless mobile devices have also contributed to people’s desire for information in an instant (and I’d agree), but I think social media is a big contributor to this.  I think of Twitter, specifically.  At 140 characters or less per tweet, this social network moves fast.  To stay relevant, Twitter users are expected to be responsive… immediately.  In fact, Unmetric actually measured Twitter response time of some US banks and reported on it.  How will students, many of whom adopters of Twitter, come to expect education be delivered to them?

2.) Crowdsourcing for answers – Gone are the days when an individual must use a journalist or professional critic to source opinions and ideas.  With social media, people can even avoid search engines.  Wondering what are some good restaurants in San Francisco so you can visit them on an upcoming vacation?  Ask your Facebook Friends and see who’s been there.  This is why there’s such a big push to integrate “search” & “social” (think: Bing & Facebook and pretty much everything about Google+).  How might this be changing the notion of information & authority in the education space?

3.) Transparency rules the day - With people and information so widely accessible in ways they never have been before, individuals expect the truth and accountability.  If a CEO is communicating on social media and a scandal about her company makes the news, you better believe that followers of that CEO are going to ask her directly about it.  And they’ll expect an answer.  If they don’t get one they like (or perhaps worse, one with not enough information), they’ll express that, too.  Transparency is key in the age of social media.  What is higher education doing to respond to this trend?

An infographic which sums up some ideas about social media and expecations of transparency nicely

This infographic sums up some ideas about social media and expectations of transparency nicely. Click the image to be taken to the blog where I found this content.

4.) What was private is now public - Whether we like it or not, social media has changed our notions of personal information and privacy.  What where once internal dialogues, including what one is thinking of making for dinner or how someone wants new living room furniture to look, are now out there.  They’re probably indexed in Google results pages (somewhere).  When was the last time you were about to meet someone potentially important to you and you didn’t think about searching Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. for them to get the scoop?  How is this changing student life & relationships on campuses across the country?

5.) Everyone is an author - Individuals are now in a time where they can write and publish something to the web in seconds.  From virtually anywhere.  What’s more, on social media, this is all attached and credited to them personally.  Everyone has become an author.  Everyone is writing an autobiography.  As such, people want to be able to craft their own journey, build their own audience, find and share things relevant to them.  Social media, when used intelligently, can do that for them, and the world can watch.

Think of Perez Hilton’s rise to fame due to his controversial blog or Justin Bieber’s enormous celebrity status after having been discovered on YouTube.  How is this changing how students define themselves?  Or changing how they get jobs?  Shameless plug: I just wrote an article on social media & job searching for Vault.com.

6.) Control is for all of us - Combine access to decision-makers, information direct from sources, and multiple platforms for people to share their own voices, and you wind up with an expectation that “control” should be shared.  Organizations are wise to consider this carefully.  My favorite example of this notion is the story of Gap, the clothing company who tried to change their logo back in 2010.  When they announced and debuted the new logo, what they didn’t expect was tremendous backlash from social media – so much that it caused them to revert back to their previous logo.  It’s clear from lessons learned that “listening” on social media is critical.  Could this or will this expectation affect university governance?  Will more stakeholders (i.e. students, alumni, parents, trustees, etc.) be engaged in the decision-making process than before?

While the ways we use social media and the ways we live our lives cannot (and, in some cases, should not) always mirror each other, I have to wonder what this new method of communicating has done and will do to expectations.  What do you think of this idea about  ”social media and expectations”?  How about social media and expectations with respect to education?  I invite you to put on your pondering caps with me and share your thoughts in a comment.

By: Kevin

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Food for Thought, Higher Education and tagged , , , , , ,
06 Mar 2013
1 Comment

Guest Post: Using Social Media to Unite the PA Wine Industry

We’re excited to welcome another guest post & voice to social @ edu – Denise Gardner, Penn State Extension Enologist – who offers her story about utilizing Facebook & Twitter to connect higher education to industry in her field.

I’m pretty sure that at every wine conference I attend (yes, there are such things as “wine conferences”) there are always a series of seminars/workshops on social media and how to utilize it for winery business and marketing.  However, the wine industry seems to be slightly cautious when it comes to using social media – how to use it, when to use it, why to use it.

When I started working for Penn State Extension as their state enologist, I decided immediately to implement a social media plan into my program.  Why?  Well, for one, if I was going to encourage wineries to use social media, I thought I could use my program as a firm example.  In addition, social media offers the quickest way I can reach a lot of people in a short amount of time, especially with limited resources.  And it is an amazing way to connect people.

For the most part, I use a Facebook page (“Penn State Extension Enology”) and a Twitter account (@WineNews4You) for my Extension programs.  Facebook is a great way to see what wineries throughout PA are doing on a daily or weekly basis and how they are reaching out to wine consumers.  I love the use of wine quotes, free coupons for events, competitions to enhance selling products, and updates on what is going on in the winery.  I think this really helps consumers feel like they are a “part of the brand.”  [P.S. Now is the time to go on Facebook and find your favorite wineries to follow!]

As I kind of view myself as a central hub for the wineries, linking up to all of them allows them to turn around and link to each other.  One of the greatest benefits of this process is that I think it makes businesses feel like they are a part of a greater unit – that we are all working as one team.

A screenshot of Penn State Extension Enology Facebook Page

A screenshot of Penn State Extension Enology Facebook Page. I use my own picture so that if people then want to link to my own Facebook account, they know I am the same person. I think this gives the program a personal touch and recognition that a person is actively involved in the program.

Additionally, Facebook allows me to send out mass messages to all of the wineries quickly.  There are now 189 wineries in Pennsylvania, so if I’m suddenly fielding 10 emails a week about the use of sulfur dioxide in the winery, I can quickly put up a post on Facebook and Twitter, and hope additional wineries will receive this important information.  I also use the Facebook page as a way to update wineries on national/global news items that I think may be of relevance to the industry here in Pennsylvania.   Additionally, it keeps wineries and consumers up-to-date on my activities – where I am in the state, what workshops I am holding, and what those workshops entail.  Furthermore, I add a lot of pictures of our research harvest project and Extension programs with hopes that this will catch interest among all the wineries.

A screenshot of the Penn State Extension Enology Facebook Album on Harvest/Fermentation Research Project

A screenshot of the Penn State Extension Enology Facebook Album on Harvest/Fermentation Research Project

Facebook also helps spur conversation within the industry.  For example, I’ve had several winemakers ask questions on Facebook.  While I manage the page and can correct any technical mistakes in an answer, I really enjoy the fact that other winemakers contribute their opinions and experience to the original question.  I have to agree that having more than one answer is sometimes more helpful than receiving only my answer.  And sometimes, I learn things, too.  That’s definitely a bonus!

In addition to my Facebook page, I also manage a professional Facebook account, “Denise M. Gardner.”  This is a way for me to connect to wineries, consumers, or professionals with regards to what I am tasting throughout the year.  Yes… I taste wines ALL the time.  So I use Facebook as a way to inform consumers as to what I am tasting.  Is it always Pennsylvania wine?  No.  But I do that on purpose to make sure my taste buds are fresh and avoiding palate fatigue or adaptation to Mid-Atlantic wines.  You too can befriend me today to see what it is that I am tasting.  And I promise you that you’ll be able to find some unique wine selections in all sorts of styles and price ranges!

A screen shot of the Denise M. Gardner Facebook Page

Consumers, wine professionals, and wineries can link up to my own personal Facebook to view my wine tastings and ratings… in addition to getting to know me a bit more!

Twitter has been helpful towards my position in that it allows me to stay readily connected to the national wine industry.  I find out a lot of west coast news through Twitter, which is essential for my position.  It gives a quick idea on what is going on out there even though I’m regionally located in the center of Pennsylvania.  If I catch a tweet that is incredibly relevant, I can then decide to invest more time into reading through an entire news article or contact some experts regarding a post.

A screenshot of the @WineNews4You Twitter Feed that features national wine news and wine reviews.

A screenshot of the @WineNews4You Twitter Feed that features national wine news and wine reviews. A great way to find out what is going on in the national and global wine industry.

Twitter also helped connect me to [wine] critics and wine reviewers, which has been beneficial in two ways thus far.  First, it allows me to review wines that are popular in the mass wine media.  Second, it puts more Pennsylvania wines in the critics’ Twitter streams so that they can see what we are producing here in the state.  In addition, I get opportunities to highlight Pennsylvania winery achievements that critics and “non-wine-industry-followers” get a chance to read through.  I hope these posts give them a quick reason to visit a Pennsylvania winery, try Pennsylvania wines, or at least open them up to wine tasting in general.

The key to social media, especially in a position like mine, is to get people invested in your social media programs, and this takes some real time and investment.  It can also be a real challenge for those businesses that are not in tune with social media.  How do you convince someone how useful these tools can be for their production if they hardly spend any time on the internet?  As I’m in an industry that crosses generational bridges, I often have to consider how I’m reaching my audience.  To combat this, I try advertising my Facebook and Twitter accounts on as many different media types as possible. This includes putting symbols on business cards, mass mailings, oral presentations, the Extension Enology website, and Extension Enology News ListServ.  I hope that through these outlets, more people will find the social media programs a bit more relevant to their production.

Penn State Extension Website featuring links to the professional Facebook and Twitter accounts. For a greater review of this website, click the image to be take to the page http://extension.psu.edu/enology

The Penn State Extension Website featuring links to the professional Facebook and Twitter accounts. For a greater review of this website, click the image to be take to the page http://extension.psu.edu/enology

Posted by Social @ Edu Guest Contributor in Food for Thought, Higher Education, Strategy and tagged , , , , , ,
02 Mar 2013

Awesome Article Alert: The 2012 Social Admissions Report

In a recent exchange of emails, I came across a SlideShare report of a study about the role and impact of social media in the admissions process for higher education.  The “2012 Social Admissions Report” conducted by Zinch and Inigral, a market leader in social enrollment management solutions for higher education, details how 7,000 college-bound high school students used social media in their college search.  Within just a few clicks, I was fascinated.  Here are my 5 most intriguing finds from the report:

  1. 71% used a mobile phone to visit a school’s website.  Is your site mobile-friendly yet?
  2. 75% “never” use Pinterest.  And yet it was named the #3 social network in 2012.  Interesting.
  3. 68% used social media to research colleges & universities.  Would love to see a year to year comparison on that stat, because I would bet my bottom dollar that percentage is growing.  Fast.
  4. Facebook was the most popular social network used to research colleges & universities.  YouTube was #2.  I previously wrote a post about the importance of YouTube in higher education.  I suspect that will continue to grow.
  5. 75% said they would join a social network created for students at the institution.  Does this mean a custom social network for just your school?  Would love to hear if anyone has one and how it works.

But that’s certainly not all of the interesting facts, so head on over to SlideShare and check out the 2012 Social Admissions Report.

A screenshot of the 2012 Social Admissions Report on SlideShare

A screenshot of the 2012 Social Admissions Report on SlideShare

And for the admissions/enrollment folks out there, I found some interesting reads on Inigral’s blog about social media & admissions.  Check it out.

In what ways are you or your college/university engaging with students in the admissions process?  Share your insight with us in a Comment.  I’m curious to hear some best practices around this subject!

By Kevin

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Awesome Article Alert, Food for Thought, Higher Education and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
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 , , ,
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
17 Jun 2012
8 Comments

Creativity Resurrected: Social Media in Education

At a recent conference in the desert known as Las Vegas, I was fortunate enough to hear the words of a fantastic mind and brilliant speaker, Sir Ken Robinson. I have to admit, keynote speakers are sometimes my least favorite part of any gathering. As a “Gen Y” I much prefer a dialogue and interactivity over sitting still and listening only. However, Sir Ken had me hooked from moment one. His bio and TED talks should show you why.

During his moments on stage, Sir Ken elaborated beautifully on some of his ideas regarding education in America. No surprise here: he’s concerned that the system is failing.  One of the points during his talk was that education often inadvertently squashes creativity, a critical element of humanity that has helped us survive and reinvent ourselves throughout history. As an educator myself, this was cause for pause.  How can I be a part of education’s shift back to cultivating innovative thinking, doing, and being? Turning inward, I reflected on characteristics of creative climates I have experienced thus far. Two traits emerged: highly collaborative and boundary-less. Thinking as an educator, I added a caveat: needs to operate on a “low to no” budget. So, I need to create opportunities to collaborate, without boundaries, at almost no cost.  Well, it should come as no surprise that my mind went immediately to social media. Let’s break down that sentence and put some social in it.

1.) Opportunities to collaborate…

A brief description of Google+ Hangouts

Google+ Hangouts are a fantastic example of social media providing ways to collaborate.

Where in social media are there such spaces?  Plenty.  Immediately, I think of Google+ Hangouts for synchronous video conversations with screen sharing capabilities, Twitter tweetchats to gather people in a live discussion, LinkedIn & Facebook groups for asynchronous conversations, and even a co-authored blog (this one is fine example if I do say so myself).

2.) … without boundaries…
Social media is famous for being boundary-less.  I can think of numerous examples myself, but here’s a quick story outside of higher ed that I really just love, first for the connection made and second for the topic: Greek culture (and food).  A friend was recently telling me about a Greek Festival she was helping plan locally in New Jersey.  One of her big pushes was to get this festival on social media, namely Twitter.  ”How much could a Greek Festival say about itself on Twitter?” you wonder.  Well, 3 Greek Sisters from Canada found the festival quite interesting, and, with a recently published Greek cookbook they’re hoping to sell in the American market, they found the festival on Twitter and are now flying in for the event to give live cooking demos.  Believe it.

The Twitter bio of the Opa Greek Festival

Here’s the official Twitter bio from the Twitter homepage of the Opa Greek Festival.

The tweets of the 3 Greek Sisters showing they'll be attending the Opa Greek Festival

And here are the tweets from the 3 Greek Sisters talking about their upcoming events, including a stop at the Opa Greek Festival. The connection was made all via Twitter.

3.) …at almost no cost.
Google+ Hangouts?  Free.  LinkedIn groups?  Free.  Facebook groups?  Free.  Twitter tweetchats?  Free.  I could go on, but you’re getting the picture.

To me, it’s clear.  Social media has the power to resurrect creativity in education, higher education, and really everywhere.  How are you harnessing its power in your life and work?  Give us goosebumps and tell us in the comments.

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Posted by Kevin Grubb in Food for Thought and tagged , , , , , , , ,

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