Originally presented as a keynote at the 2104 ACPA Residential Curriculum Institute at Virginia Tech, this presentation provides an overview about how you can integrate social media as a learning and community development strategy in student affairs and informal learning contexts.

1. Social The opportunities and challenges of a
residence life curriculum.

2. @paulgordonbrown
www.paulgordonbrown.com
paulgordonbrown@gmail.com

3. Social media in student affairs work…
What are you afraid of?

4. “fear” has always accompanied
new technology

5. it’s making us “less social”

6. but really it’s just establishing
new norms and behaviors

7. anything in
EXCESS is likely bad.

8. social media is a TOOL

9. STOP BEING AFRAID

10. you might “STEP
IN IT”
yes,

12. “It’s not a question of if you
will make a mistake, it’s a
question of when and how
you will capitalize on
turning digital lemons into
digital lemonade. Learn to
be FLAWsome.”
- Erik Qualman

13. strategy social media is a

14. ? What are your outcomes let this drive your social media usage

15. Outcomes
1. Develop relationships with your students
2. Develop community
3. Model appropriate online behavior
!
4. Customer service
5. Marketing and information sharing
6. Reading student culture/discourse

17. Pick your platforms
Twitter: I’m eating a #donut.
Facebook: I like donuts.
Foursquare: This is where I eat donuts.
Instagram: Here’s a vintage photo of my donut.
YouTube: Here I am eating a donut.
LinkedIn: My skills include donut eating.
Pintrest: Here’s a donut recipe.
Spotify: Now listening to “Donuts.”
Google+: I’m a Google employee who eats donuts.

18. social media
is NOT required
EVERY time

19. Examples

20. University of Houston

21. Outcomes
1. Develop pride in the institution
2. Develop community and common
purpose
!
These outcomes aren’t just reinforced for
the students and staff who directly
contribute to the effort.

22. #BennyOnTheMove

23. Outcomes
1. Develop pride in the institution
2. Engage alumni and create cross-generational
connections
3. Enhance sense of globalism, promote
study abroad

24. Boston College

25. Outcomes 1. Point out hurtful comments and
problematic behavior.
2. Describe the negative effects of hurtful
comments on target groups.
3. Modify their own behavior.
!
4. Create a more welcoming campus
climate.
5. Encourage student action.

27. Outcomes
1. Discuss and compare different
educational styles provided by the
faculty.
2. Compose more constructive feedback.
!
3. Humanize faculty.
4. Encourage faculty-student interaction.

28. Other
• Create a Facebook group for a floor, an
LLP, or a seminar
• Decide on common hashtags to use
• Hold a photo contest alongside an event
• Share strategies
videos or artifacts

29. Can you measure it?
Views only measure awareness…
maybe.
!
This may be especially true in your
ongoing as opposed to targeted efforts.
!
Think about engagement instead.

30. some things to think about

31. it takes TIME

32. Be consistent Be dedicated

33. social media
cements relationships

34. glue it acts like a

35. Think about how you
can use social media to
lift up others.
It’s not just a broadcasting tool.

36. Social The opportunities and challenges of a
residential curriculum.

37. @paulgordonbrown
www.paulgordonbrown.com
paulgordonbrown@gmail.com