Virtual Social Networking and its’ Impact on Community Colleges Eileen Smith, M.Ed. Director...

Virtual Social Networking and its’ Impact on Community Colleges

Eileen Smith, M.Ed.

Director Product Marketing, Datatel Inc.

McLennan Community College PD Day January 9, 2008

Agenda

• Social networking

– What is it?– Social sites– Like interest sites

• Impact on communication styles• Ideas on how McLennan can embrace social

networking• How Datatel is incorporating social networking

Virtual social networking – what is it?

where a user can create a profile…and build a personal network that…A social networking site is an online place…

conn

ects

him

or

her

to o

ther

use

rs.

Club Penguin

MySpace

Facebook

Linkedin

Four Top Social Networking Sites

Social Sites - Club Penguin

55% of teens use social networking sites

Social Sites – myspace.com

Social sites – myspace.com

http://www.myspace.com/marshillcollegehttp://www.myspace.com/edgewoodcollegehttp://www.myspace.com/harcumcollegehttp://www.myspace.com/hiramcollegehttp://www.myspace.com/collegesanduniversities

Social Sites - Facebook

Social Sites - Linkedin

Like interest sites

• Digg

• Flickr

• Traineo

• Last.fm

• Blogs

• SecondLife

Like Interest Sites - Digg

Like Interests Sites - Flickr

Like Interest Sites - Traineo

Like Interest Sites - Last.fm

Paradise Valley Community College’s Blog

An advisor’s blog entry

“…Simultaneously as I’m writing this I’m doing advising with a student via instant messaging. … So that I don’t have to have them drive to campus to have the discussion in my office is good for both of us…”

Things McLennan can do…

• Create blogs and have counselors/ or students update them with daily experiences– Tips, latest and greatest information…

• Highlight faculty blogs on important topics• Use blogs to reach other audiences

– Counselors– Parents– Businesses

How to create a blog

A blog in ten minutes or less

• http://eileensblog-eileen.blogspot.com/

Things McLennan can do - SecondLife

Use social media

• Post photos to flickr– Make photo groups and encourage

participation by students, alumni, and staff

• Hold a contest to make the best tour video– Evaluate on authenticity

• Target and syndicate all content

Student’s Experience …

The executive experience

Prospective student personalizes their experience

Prospective student is recognized based on personalization

Questions?

Eileen Smith eas@datatel.comwww.facebook.com: groups – Datatel Eileen Smithblog: http://eileensblog-eileen.blogspot.com/

References: Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything

by Don Tabscott & Anthony WilliamsCampus Technology – September 2007SecondLife – the Official Guide