social @ edu

Exploring strategies for social media in higher education

Archive for the tag “social media”

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 , , , , , ,
22 Mar 2013

Awesome Article Alert: How Digital Behavior Differs Among Generations

In my LinkedIn Today feed this morning (one of my favorite places to get news & updates, by the way), I stumbled across another interesting article that takes a look at the differences in digital behavior between generations.  Some good reading to help understand how higher ed professionals (made of up of mostly older generations) and our students (in my case, thinking of “traditional age” students – millennials) communicate.  Not surprisingly, the data in the article provided some interesting reflection points for me.

Here are my 3 big takeaways:

  • Over 50% of Twitter users are millennials.  Although it started out with an older population, there’s been rapid adoption among the younger generation.  See also: my previous post on Twitter vs. Facebook & College Students
  • 1 in 5 digital video viewers is a baby boomer.  So, yes, the boomers are watching all of those funny cat videos on YouTube.  YouTube also recently announced it has 1 billion active users every month.
  • Not shockingly, mobile and smartphone usage is on the rise among all generations studied.  More and more reason to continue going mobile-friendly in everything we do.
Stats on Digital Behavior by Generation

Some stats on digital behavior by generation from the article

For the full article, check out How Digital Behavior Differs Among Millennials, Gen Xers and Boomers.

So, how are you using Twitter to engage millennials?  How are you using video to engage all of your constituents (alumni, parents, adult students)?  And, are you going mobile?  Would love to hear some examples from the higher ed community around the world.

By: Kevin

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Awesome Article Alert and tagged , , , | Leave a Comment
20 Mar 2013
4 Comments

Guest Post: “Checking in” – Geolocation Social Networks at the NYU Wasserman Center

This week, we welcome another guest voice, Heather Tranen, Associate Director of Global Communications and Strategic Outreach at NYU’s Wasserman Center for Career Development.  Heather manages social media for the office and offers her thoughts on how a career center can implement Foursquare into their efforts.  To connect with Heather, check her out LinkedIn & Twitter.

Unlocking specials, checking in, and exploring businesses are all key components of Foursquare.  But how can they relate to career services? Geolocation social networks like Foursquare provide a plethora of ways to gather data, to engage employers, and to provide stakeholders with a dynamic experience at our career centers. Most recently, Foursquare incorporated ways that organizations can build a stronger brand presence. This allows an organization to expand its reach beyond those already checking in and engaged with their office. Here are a few ideas that we found successful at the NYU Wasserman Center to get you started with your own Foursquare account.

A screenshot of The NYU Wasserman Center on Foursquare

A screenshot of The NYU Wasserman Center on Foursquare – an example of using geolocation social networking in higher education.

Create a brand page. The new brand feature on Foursquare is awesome. Similar to Facebook, the platform attracts fans so that we can send them tips and updates. Through the brand page, we also bring together our different offices at NYU Poly and at NYU’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies as a “chain”. Having a chain gives us the opportunity to add either individualized, or comprehensive tips and updates for the different offices.

Get listed. Through the brand feature, you can create lists that act as “pocket guides” to students. For instance, we have lists of employers who are members of our Employer Partner program, and lists that show the closest places to print documents or materials. We also plan to roll out a list that shows places to go shopping for appropriate interview attire. Additionally, others also include us on their lists, such as the Essential NYU list. Being included in lists increases our brand presence beyond those who are already fans or checking in to our office.

Add tips and encourage others to do the same. Employers, students, and alumni coming to your office can leave tips viewable to those who check in after them. For instance, an employer could give an interview tip for students, or students can leave tips that help their peers plan effectively for an appointment with a career counselor.

Reward loyal users. Incentives for those checking in frequently provide an additional way to engage those who are actively using our career centers. We all know how much students love their free t-shirts and other university-related wares, and so our current special gives some of our “Wasserswag” to the mayor.

Implement employer-sponsored specials. When Macy’s co-sponsored a high profile program, we asked them to donate raffle prizes for students checking in via Foursquare. This is just one example of employer involvement in this process. Intangible rewards, such as an informational interview with a member of an organization could also be offered as incentives.

Measure your success. Foursquare offers in depth analytics. For us, this helps to see when the most unique users checked in, or if there are certain times more individuals are using the career center. For instance, we saw a huge spike in unique users during Macy’s co-sponsored event with the raffle special. Through these measurements, we are able to plan more intentionally.


As a large, urban university, Foursquare unites a campus that can sometimes feel decentralized and overwhelming. We are excited about implementing new initiatives through this platform! Through Foursquare, we can build our presence and encourage new students to engage with our office and to utilize our services.
Posted by Social @ Edu Guest Contributor in Food for Thought, Guest Post 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
01 Mar 2013
2 Comments

Guest Post: Social Media in the City: An Overview of Social Media in Vancouver

We’re excited to welcome our first international guest author here on Social @ Edu, Jessica Hurford.  Hurford is a Social Media Coordinator and Copywriter at Brighton College in Vancouver, British Columbia. She recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University. 

Social Media in Vancouver

 For many people, using social media is deeply engrained in their everyday routine. We wake up and the first thing we do is check our mobile which instantly connects us with Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, you name it. In Vancouver, social media reigns! The city is highly dependent on it to stay connected and up-to-date. Vancouverites use social media for everything from social gatherings (like tweet-ups) to finding romance.

Around the city there are also numerous groups and events that have come to exist solely because of social media. The Social Media Network was designed in reaction to the overwhelming growth of social media world-wide. This network works to provide post-secondary students in Vancouver with the tools to take social media to the next level. The overarching goal here is to “stand out amidst [the] over-saturation”.[1]  They feature two collegiate chapters with two of the city’s largest post-secondary institutions, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.

Another interesting example of the relevance of social media in Vancouver is the up and coming Social Media Awards, which was created by the Social Media Network. The event aims to not only highlight significant social media efforts within the city, but also to connect students and industry professionals in order to continue the proliferation of the social media community in Vancouver.

Social Media in Higher Education

 Social media within post-secondary institutions is becoming more and more prevalent as well. Just about every single institution in the city of Vancouver and surrounding has immersed itself fully in the social media pool.

Many schools now connect with students through social media which helps to encourage a sense of community both on and off campus. Creating community within some Vancouver schools has been an ongoing issue, especially in many of Vancouver’s career colleges.

 

Social Media at Brighton College

At Brighton College we are currently operating across four main social media outlets: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Linked In. We feel that each platform benefits the college in a specific way. For example, through Facebook we are able to interact with and answer student inquiries as well as connect directly to potential students who may be interested in certain program information. Via Linked In we have our educational advisors working to help connect students and recent graduates with employers looking to hire.

From this we can see that being knowledgeable about how to use social media is an increasing requirement to stay connected in any city, let a social media heavy city like Vancouver. Emerging are many social media training courses and programs to help facilitate this movement. For example, Brighton College currently offers a Web Marketing Specialist Diploma which instructs students about proper social media etiquette and standards as well as providing a strong marketing background for students to build upon.

When something such as social media actually begins to change the way that people think, act, and conduct business, it’s clear that a social media education is a good education to have.

Posted by Social @ Edu Guest Contributor in Guest Post, Higher Education and tagged , ,
13 Feb 2013

Awesome Article Alert: President Obama’s Google+ Hangout

Today, my social networks were talking about President Obama’s College Scorecard tool, which he mentioned during his State of the Union address this week.  The Scorecard is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center.  It is designed to help people seeking higher education by giving them data on things like the cost to attend, average debt load of graduates, and employment opportunities for graduates of each college or university in the United States.  The Chronicle of Higher Education wrote an interesting piece on the tool, which got me looking around the web for more information.

So, what’s the source of this “Awesome Article Alert” really?  And how does this all come back to social media?  Well, as I navigated to a search, here’s what I saw on Google.

Google Search with President Obama's Hangout

A snapshot of Google’s homepage today, with a link to President Obama’s Google+ Hangout

So, being curious, I clicked on the link to RSVP below the search bar.  President Obama would answer my questions?  Yes, please.  Here’s where I went:

The Google+ Hangout Page for President Obama

A snapshot of the page to RSVP for President Obama’s Google+ Fireside Hangout. Click on the image to be taken to the page.

Needless to say, I am impressed.  Google+ Hangouts have so much potential, and this is one really neat way to actualize that potential.

Have you participated in a Google+ Hangout yet?  Notice any differences in how your networks use Google+?  Would love to know your thoughts in Comments.

By Kevin

Posted by Kevin Grubb in Awesome Article Alert, Google+ and tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment
10 Feb 2013
4 Comments

To Pin or Not To Pin: The Debate Over Pinterest Use in Higher Ed

topinTo pin or not to pin, that is the question many colleges and universities are asking themselves about Pinterest today. This platform, designed to organize and share things across the web, has taken off thanks to topics driven by images, such as fashion trends, wedding tips and recipe ideas.  Pinterest has experienced success in the retail industry and among women, yet, it is one social media platform that is still up for debate among higher education institutions.

If you look closer, there is a case to be made for Pinterest in the higher education industry. Below, I’ll break down a few key points, including the visual content curation trend, the visual identity of colleges and universities, and how to put this all together for a school’s potential use of this “virtual pinboard”. Considering it is the third most popular network, according to Experian’s 2012 Digital Marketer report, I hope my thoughts encourage you to join the pinning debate, or re-evaluate your stance on the subject.

Visual Content Curation Trend

According to Pew’s Internet and American Life Project (a go-to source for U.S. social media usage), 56 percent of adult internet users create or curate photos or videos online.  In other words, a significant portion of the adult population, and a key demographic served by the higher education industry, are interacting through visual media.  They are adding photos and videos online, liking, sharing and identifying common areas of interests thanks to Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube and, now, Pinterest.

Images send a message instantly, and require less effort to comprehend that message, compared to text. The importance of pictures and videos to mass communication is not new, but the speed and manner in which they spread is, thanks to social media.  So, one point to consider in your potential use of Pinterest is, what message do you want to spread instantly? Furthermore, what visual medium can convey that message?

Visual Identity in Higher Education 

The visual identity of any college or university is crucial to their brand, and examples are rampant in higher education.  Go to any school’s website, you’ll find the school’s colors, their logo clearly displayed and pictures of students, faculty and more to showcase campus life.   The visual branding of an institution can be traced back through its history; such as Harvard’s College Arms, which were drawn up in 1836.

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Harvard University’s homepage

Today, branding has grown in importance, especially as conveyed through photographs and videos.  The higher education landscape has become populated with more competitors, and there are even more avenues (here’s social media coming into the picture again) to illustrate why your institution’s brand is better than the next.  Therefore, the next piece when considering Pinterest is, what elements of your existing visual identity should be curated/aggregated online?

Pinterest & Curating Higher Education’s Image

If we put this all together, we have to think about 1) visual messages, 2) visual identity/brand and 3) online curation. When you identify the first two pieces, Pinterest is a convenient platform where one can aggregate them and create an interactive setting. For example, wouldn’t you want your brand ambassadors (think: current students and alumni) to literally illustrate  why your school is best and share that with prospective students and donors?

Admissions and development are just two of many departments that could leverage the platform, and even possibly measure conversions created by Pinterest, which has contributed to its success in the retail industry.   Retail has great examples of how to use virtual pinboards, but there are many examples in our own industry. As a career services professional, I’ve seen great uses of Pinterest, and been inspired, by NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development and Bucknell University Career Development Center.  Contests are a very popular practice on Pinterest; not only does it foster engagement, but it draws attention to your latest social media practice. Whole Foods had a very creative contest over the holidays with their cookie swap.  I hope you review these samples, but seek out others to see the innovative uses of the platform.

The key to Pinterest is to be creative and think with a visual-state of mind.  It is a virtual pinboard and content curator that higher education can utilize. It is designed to share interests and inspiration. We inspire thousands of minds every day on our campuses, and I hope this post inspired you to pin, rather than not pin.

If you’re a visual learner and would like to see another approach to this post, refer to my Prezi given at NACE’s Social Media Mashup in Philadelphia. Finally, if you have an example of a creative use of Pinterest in higher education, please let us know – sharing is at the heart of Social @ Edu!

by Shannon

Posted by Shannon Kelly in Higher Education, Pinterest, Strategy and tagged , ,

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