Within the last ten years institutions such as colleges and universities reached their student body via e-mail. However, within the last few years it has been found that many of these e-mails sit in their in boxes without being read. This is because students are communicating more via social networking sites such as Facebook, twitter and others sites. Therefore, promoting campus events, keeping students informed, and alert has taken on a new dimension in terms of communicating via social networking.
in order to facilitate and engage students participation, administration, faculty and staff are finding ways to keep up with the tech savviness of students and reaching them via social network. I recommend the use of a social networking site called ConnectYard. This site may be utilized to reach students in terms of planning events, keeping them informed, student activities current events, the latest news and more importantly alerts in terms of weather, school closings and otherwise. As an adult educator, student groups may be able to communicate via ConnectYard when planning meetings, progress reports and reviewing work. This may be done on the ConnectYard site via "text messaging, picture and video
messaging" (Hagen, 2013).
For a free trial of ConnectYard for SharePoint Online, visit the Microsoft Office 365 store at
http://tinyurl.com/cy365app.
Another social networking site that educators may use to enhance and reinforce a lesson is Twitter.
I recently watched a demo of a prospective adjunct professor teaching the five paragraph essay. she focused on Writing a proper thesis statement utilizing three points. Her culminating activity was for students to tweet their thesis statements to her. How cool, innovative, and sensible. I am sure that if that's utilized in our basic writing classes, excuses would be non-existent. Accessing and setting up an account may be done through http://www.twitter.com.
Hagen, B. ( 2013). A faster more effective way to communicate with students using sharepoint online and connectyard. Retrieved, July 15, 2013 from http://blogs.technet.com/b/educloud/archive/2013.
Yvette,
ReplyDeleteGlad to see we share the same interest in Twitter. It's amazing the information and tools that are out there that people aren't using. It really is a shame, and we should continue implementing social media, like the two you mentioned, as it continually enhances education.
Hi Rachel,
DeleteThank you Rachel.
Yvette
I have seen several people post about twitter and it's huge benefits for educators and students. I have not tried twitter yet, but will have to sign up and try it. Thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Hi Jennifer,
DeleteI appreciate your response, I also look forward to utilizing twitter in the Fall semester.
Yvette
Hi Yvette! I have a Twitter account and barely use it. I might try using it more often after reading about the professor who had her student tweet their thesis statements to her. I have a question, I teach many returning adult students who are not as "tech savvy" as some of my other students, how can I get them to use twitter when using email or instant messaging is sometimes a challenge? Some of my adult students don't own a smartphone, either because they can't afford it, or because they choose not to because they are a little old school and won't upgrade to one. For instance, my parents are 70 years old, and they just bought their first smartphones, an iPhone. They are so frustrated with them because they can't figure out how to use them. I have tried to help them, my sister has tried to help them, even my nieces who are 6 and 7 years old tried to help them learn how to use them. To ask them to use Twitter or Facebook on their phones would be impossible. I have students like that in my classes, what are your suggestions on how to help them if they refuse to upgrade to modern technology?
ReplyDeleteHi Aaron,
DeleteUsually, I will suggest that they ask their children or grandchildren to assist them in starting a facebook or Twitter account. Suggest that they communicate with their family members at first re: baby showers, birthdays and family events. What I usually find is that they complain that they are too busy or tired from working full time and doing school. But once they test the waters, they can't stop. One of the workstudy students in the Writing center constantly corresponds with her mom on facebook. The student is 45, so you may only guess that the mother is maybe 60 years and over. It's intimidating, but like ourselves the first time is always the hardest.
this post is very intresting and usefull for everyone.
ReplyDeleteSocial Networking Site