This document discusses changing perceptions of social networking and how it can be used in higher education. It provides an overview of various social media tools and statistics on their usage. It also examines student experiences and perceptions of social networking as well as how universities are currently using social media for marketing, communication, and learning. Practical ideas are presented for how universities could further utilize social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs.

1. Changing Perceptions: Social Networking Sue Beckingham and Jayne Evans Sheffield Hallam University Yorkshire Regional AUA Conference Nov 2009University of Sheffield

2. A Procrastinator’s Paradise? or… A Constructive Community for the Cyberliterate?

3. an understanding of the term Social Media and what Social Networking means today an overview of the current thinking about the use of Social Networking and Social Media in Higher Education an insight in to the current student experience of Social Media and some practical ideas on how Social Media may be used in university. The aims of this session will be to provide:

4. It is a term that is used to describe the various activities that integrate social interaction with mobile and internet technology, where users interact by sharing and discussing information. What do we mean by Social Media?

5. No longer constrained to a desktop PC…. Portable mobile technology: Laptops, Netbooks, Smart Phones, PDAs,

6. Social networking: Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Bebo, Friendster, Orkut. Social bookmarking: Delicious, Diigo, Stumbleupon. Social news: Digg, Reddit. Social photo/video sharing: YouTube, Flickr, Twitpic. Social Media

7. Blogs and online journals: Wordpress, Typepad, Blogger, LiveJournal Microblogging: Twitter, Tumblr, Plurk Instant Messaging: MSN, AIM, QQ Social Media cont…

8. Emerging Learning technologies: changing the way we learn and share information and the way we network. Social Media and Education Created using www.wordle.net Educause Series: 7 Things You Should Know About... http://www.educause.edu/7Things

9. 1 in every 11 mins. of online activity is dedicated to Social Media Social Networks and Blogs are now the 4th most popular online activity 67% of the global online population visits Social Networks and Blogs 78% trust other consumers' recommendations on Blogs Mobile usage of Social Networking has grown by 249% in the UK and 156% in the US Source: LexisNexisAnalytics White Paper - The Influencer IndexFinding influence: uncovering the brand conversations that matter in the new media world Facts

10. What's out there? Web 2.0 Tools Definition: The second generation of the World Wide Web in which content is user-generated and dynamic. Web 2.0 encourages collaboration and communication between users.

11. Question: What are your feelings/perceptions of Social Networking?

12. Defined as web based services that allow individuals to: Construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system Articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection View and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system Boyd and Ellison 2007Michigan State University Social Network Sites

13. Connections can be based on Specific interests General interests Sport, Music, Books, Religion, Travel, Art, Online Games....

14. Something for all ages Daily Visitors Official Min Age Requirement http://www.wolframalpha.com/

15. International

16. Personal Interests Sue Jayne

17. Global Top 10: May 2009 Accessed 4/5/09 www.alexa.com

18. Global Top 10: September 2009 Facebook up 1 place Accessed 6/9/09 www.alexa.com

19. Global Top 10: November 2009 Facebook up 1 place Accessed 1/11/09 www.alexa.com

20. UK Top 10 US Top 10 Accessed 1/11/09 www.alexa.com

21. International Top 10 Accessed 1/11/09 www.alexa.com

22. Growth Ofcom: The Communications Market Report 2009

23. Can it be true? Social Media Revolution

24. Current thinking in some sectors Fulbright and Laworski 6th Annual Litigation Trends Report 2009

25. Student Union led discussions at Bournemouth University and University of West of England Campaigns to ban Facebook “We put our TV project groups on Facebook to do our work and brainstorm for ideas – it’s not used for socialising, so this needs to be taken into consideration,” she said. “It’s much simpler to use than Outlook or email lists as it’s a conversation everyone can look at and review.” “I come into university at 9am in the morning to work on my dissertation, thinking that I’ve finally beaten the crowd to the computers, and I still can’t get to them because people are on Facebook!” Peer-Assisted Learning (PAL) leaders also commented that they needed to use Facebook to contact their student groups as most students do not check their university emails

26. Concerns about time spent on Facebook Encourage student suggestions designated easy-to-find "short stay" spots increase and promote wireless enabled areas to use their own laptops and web enabled phones signs to limit use during busy times Current thinking in HE

27. Facebook: Course Alumni Twitter: Tweet alerts to news reports, websites, journal papers YouTube: Video presentations, Animation clips Academics using Social Networking

28. Alumni Blogs Subject Specialist Blogs Blog directories Tapping in to the wisdom of the crowds Hospitality Alumni Network 74 blogs 117884 posts 1810941 comments

29. Learning and IT Services View “Sheffield Hallam prides itself on preparing students for the commercial world beyond study. Through using Google Apps, our students will become familiar with a set of tools which they are likely to encounter beyond their studies.” Aline Hayes, Director of Systems and Technology, Sheffield Hallam University "Google has far more resources and time to invest in developing email systems and collaborative tools than we do. With the money and time saved through the switch from our traditional in-house IT environment, we will be able to invest more in other areas where we can have a bigger impact in enhancing our students’ experiences.” Chris Sexton, Director of Corporate Information & Computing Service , University of Sheffield "Many students are already familiar with Google Mail from using it in their personal lives before they come to university and they have been extremely enthusiastic about the improved storage and user-friendly interface it delivers.”

30. Access to a free suite of messaging and collaboration tools including: Mail™ Docs™ Sites™ Chat™ Coming soon: Google Wave Google Apps

31. Google Wave What is a wave? A wave is equal parts conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. A wave is shared. Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when. A wave is live. With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.

32. Social Media: from frivolous pastime to effective business tool? University presence on: Twitter Facebook YouTube LinkedIn Marketing

33. Who's using Twitter? Accessed: 1/11/09 http://www.twitter.com

34. How is it being used? Tweets Following Public events Library - student workshops Research news Promote focus groups Chief Exec messages PhD scholarships Open Day - student feedback* Open Day visitors Other Universities Student Union HEFCE NUS Times Higher British Library Local Council and individual Councillors Student Accommodation

35. Socially using Facebook etc Learning and Teaching dialogic tools such blogs, wikis, social network sitesBut is there more? How are students using Social Media?

36. Rate my Professors: Over 6000 Schools, 1 million Professors, 8 million opinions http://www.ratemyprofessors.com/ UCAS 'Yougo': Website where students can meet people doing their course or going to their uni http://www.ucas.com/yougo/index.html The Student Room: A-Z of UK Universities facilities accommodation nightlife teaching quality discussion threads http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk What else is out there?

37. A-Z of Universities and student written guides Open day Calendar Discussion Board - Current number of discussion threads: University of Hull 414 University of Huddersfield 394 Leeds Met University 836 University of Leeds 2143 University of Sheffield 2169 Sheffield Hallam University 924 The Student Room Accessed 17/10/09 http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk

38. "Anyone doing Journalism?" "Tell me about Leeds!" "Enjoying uni but a bit lonely" "Just need some help with stuff please" "Find your flatmates" "Why am I only enrolled on half my modules?" "Football… Societies… Hockey… Start a band?" "Is anyone going to Huddersfield?" Power of the Student Voice

39. Student engagement #FOF = Funding our future

41. Employee profile

42. Discussion Board

43. Group collaborations

45. 1. Gathering and sharing information

46. 2. Showcasing student and faculty work

47. Reporting an event using: Live streaming video Twitter Types of events Open seminars or lectures Student led conferences Student sporting events 3. Providing a platform to broadcast events

48. 4. Emergency notification How many students choose to read their Facebook email over University? University of Minnesota

49. 5. Connecting people University of Michigan 65,709 Fans and growing… Sheffield Hallam University 4170 fans

50. Connecting directly with your audience Facebook YouTube Blogs Twitter RSS feed Videoand on site TV Who? 6. Producing, not just promoting "Blair lecture: one of many Family Weekend events"

51. 7. Creating a dialogue and communicating to students Student blogs and public comment posts Northumbria University University of Texas

52. 'Stanford Open Office Hours' comes to Facebook Begins with an introductory video from a faculty member inviting questions from participants They post questions and comments In subsequent weeksthe professor will answer questions ona second video 44,355 fans 8. Facebook Office Hours

53. 9. Coaching for the spotlight

54. 10. Getting wired via mobile oMbielcampusM™

55. Consider 3 ways you might practically use Social Media in your roles Group Activity

56. Boyd, D. M. and Ellison, N. B. (2007) Social Network Sites: Definition, History and Scholarship. [Online] Available at: http://consommacteurs.blogs.com/files/socialnetworksites_boyd-ellision_2007.pdf Educause (2009) EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative's (ELI's) 7 Things You Should Know About... series [Online] Available at: http://www.educause.edu/7Things Fulbright and Jaworski (2009) Fulbright's 6th Annual Litigation Trends Survey Report [Online] Available at: http://www.fulbright.com/images/publications/FJ7146-LitTrendsReport2009-v13.pdf LexisNexis (2009) Finding influence: uncovering the brand conversations that matter in the new media world [Online] Available at: http://www.lexisnexis.org.uk/creo_files/nexis/lna_white_paper-the_influencer_index.pdf Ling, R. (2008) New Tech New Ties, London: MIT Press Ofcom (2009) The Communications Market Report [Online] Available at: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/cm/cmr09/cmr09.pdf Visuals http://www.wolframalpha.com/ http://www.ombiel.com/index.h http://www.blackboard.com/Teaching-Learning/Learn-Resources/Whats-New/Learn-for-iPhone.aspx http://mashable.com/2009/07/15/social-media-public-affairs/ References