XLS Commons
Posted on June 17, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, r3 | 1 Comment
With the furor surrounding social media tools like Twitter and Facebook, modern educators are increasingly tempted to brave the turbid waters of the internet in the hopes of finding new and interesting ways to enhance the classroom experience. However, for many of us who have never used these tools before, the question then becomes, “Where do I even start?”
At the 2009 Interactive Technology in Education conference in Finland, keynote speaker Andrea Vascellari addresses this question by presenting concrete examples of social media at work in the field of education. In doing so, he brings to light an important point that I think deserves more attention: even tech-savvy students that already use these tools in their personal lives probably don’t use them as intelligently as they could.
The social media experiment is ongoing, and society is still coming to grips with the ways it can change how we learn and communicate. It’s fine to feel a little overwhelmed, but it’s still too soon to throw in the towel if you don’t have a Facebook page and have never Twittered a single Tweet; you’re probably not as behind the curve as you think.
Regardless of experience level or exposure, everyone has something they can contribute to the conversation surrounding social media in education. Do you have any ideas for using these new communication tools to enhance the learning experience?
Posted on June 12, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, r3 | Leave a Comment
This month’s mystery tool is a little on the controversial side (which means it’s probably worth checking out). It involves microblogging, which is posting a comment on the Web in 140 characters or less. This is important because:
Not convinced? Keep posted.—Robert
Posted on June 10, 2009
Filed Under Guest Columns, r3 | 4 Comments
Several months ago, Drew McClellan (of Drew’s Marketing Minute) presented a social media marketing effort that used a fake resident to promote a new condo complex. He asked if it was a social media faux pas or social media smart. Much discussion ensued. (You can read the blog post here.)
Last week, I came across an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. It highlighted professors who use fake students to promote “real” learning online and increase retention. Those professors proclaim success, students and critics cry foul. (You can read the article here.)
After reading both the blog post and the article, do you think the marketers crossed a line? What about the professors? Are they somehow different lines?
-Jessica
Posted on June 3, 2009
Filed Under Emerging Technologies, Engagement, r3 | 7 Comments
In a world where the tail is long, the world is flat and information doubles every 2 years (or is it 11 hours), social media is the latest “must be involved” technology. Social web programs such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Netvibes, Flickr, Second Life, LinkedIn, etc, are becoming a part of the daily routine.
Holy social media Batman, what‘s all the fuss about? Well for you to find the answer to that question, you will need to join the masses. You can’t visit these sites and putter around. You need to become a member and reveal your identity. Read more
Posted on May 27, 2009
Filed Under Engagement, r3 | 1 Comment
I just read a short piece by Judith Ramaley entitled Reflections on the Public Purposes of Higher Education, which was published in the Wingspread Journal in 2007. This article summarizes the major themes and timeline of the notion of higher education and engagement—in scholarship, service, community development, innovation, and the like. It’s a broad and spongy term, in some ways, but I’ll leave the sharpening of the terminology for another time. (Or, perhaps you might offer some definitions on engagement.)
