Innovation in Learner Support Services

Through Social Media

Dr. Stella PortoMaster of Distance Education & E-Learning

The Graduate SchoolUniversity of Maryland University College

Focus

“Our goal was to create an integrated program-wide community and set of initiatives, which would enable unstructured interaction, sharing of information, and creation of an ongoing and long-lasting common knowledge base, as well as professional and personal e-relationships.”

Agenda

• Introduction– Background & context

• Analysis of the Social Media Support Suite– All the MDE program-wide support initiatives

• Lessons Learned• Final remarks

Introduction: Background• Student support at a distance…

– Shift from a campus based perspective– Needs go beyond those addressed in individual

courses– Focus on the needs of this specific target audience

• Part-time• Full-time employment• Family duties• Long time away from school• Diverse academic and professional background

Introduction: Background Institutional Student support

• Enrollment management / Registrar Admissions Financial aid Registration Advising Graduation

• Portal with self-services• Academic specialists,

coordinators, program directors• Library• Office of disabilities, etc.

Introduction: BackgroundSocial media: what it is

Support with Social media @ UMUC

Introduction: ContextThe MDE program

• Potential managers of the DE enterprise

• Entirely online for part-time working adults

• International• Collaborative

FacultySupport

InstructionDesign &Support

Leaders &Managers

HigherEducation

Media & technology

CorporateTraining &Learning

DistanceEducation

The MDE focus on developing managers and leaders in the areas of e-learning & distance education within different settings, including: K-12, higher-education, corporate, non-profits, government and military.

Analysis of the Social Media Suite

BLOGS

VIDEOS

SOCIAL NETWORKING

WIKIS

An Action Research approach

The MDE Hub

The MDE Hub•The one-stop-shop for ALL MDE related information•Extremely flexible platform

The MDE Blog

The MDE Blog•Initially was the one-stop-shop for all MDE information•Now, works exclusively as a blog •One-way communication - no interaction

The MDE Lounge

The MDE-lounge•Real interaction•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive

The MDE Faculty Forum

The Faculty-forum•Management effectiveness•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive

Mainstream Social networks

Presence in social networks•Connections with graduates and prospective students•Marketing

The MDE Peer Mentoring

The MDE peer-mentoring program•Peer-support•Student initiative•Action research project

The MDE capstone wiki

The MDE capstone wiki•Support for final capstone: e-portfolio & research project•Information sharing•Direct relationship with instruction (permanent)

MDE Orientation

The MDE orientation•Workshop with direct instructor-led support•Information sharing•Direct support to instruction

Using our unsual LMS…

The MDE internship program

The MDE internship program•Getting your feet wet as a distance educator•Supporting the program•Engaging in action research

The MDE social bookmarking project

The MDE Writing Coach program

The MDE Writing Coach program•Writing support (focused on learning)•Support for WC’s using a wiki•Growing interest for other programs

The MDE Virtual Conference

The MDE Writing Coach program•Writing support (focused on learning)•Support for WC’s using a wiki•Growing interest @ UMUC

The MDE wiki on new technologies

The MDE wiki on new technologies•Knowledge-base•Information sharing•Meta-learning

Learning lessons…There is a need for an active leadership Continuously invite communityReach out to new students

Most participants are lurkers and that’s fine!Integrating tools creates synergyStudents want to get involved, but they need a HAND

A few active members generate significant impactBeing personal is keyOngoing projects and activities Focus on respond to the needs of stakeholders

Final remarksAction Research: an excellent research practitioner approachThinking beyond the classroomEnthusiasm is contagiousExperiment, experiment and experiment…Count on your graduates and studentsNetworking is essential to everyone for different reasons

Thank you!

Questions?

Contact: sporto@umuc.edu