study abroad in a transparent world

Study Abroad in a Transparent World

What happens in Timbuktu does not stay in Timbuktu. Examine the latest forms of social networking and how you can use them to your advantage. Experience first-hand how quickly you or your field staff

can become the next YouTube phenomenon.

Presenters: Penny Schouten and Sarah McNittContributors:

• Sarah McNitt, Miami University Office of International Education• Penny Schouten, Region X Communications Manager• Wanda Dutton, School for International Training• Ruth Sylte, Manitou Heights Group


Introduction

• Where are our students getting their study abroad information? How are they sharing study abroad information with others?

• The goal of our presentation is to discuss:o How are our students communicating

information about study abroad to each other?o Why is it important to understand the

technology they’re using?o How can you stay on top?


What is Social Media?What are students using?• Blogs

o Bloggero LiveJournalo Wordpresso YouTube (vlogs)o Seesmico Their own

• Micro-blogging o Twittero FriendFeed

• Social Networks o Facebooko MySpaceo Beebo o Ning

• New Platforms appear every day

Other technologies to consider:EmailText messagingWikipedia


What to know

In a “Transparent World”…

• Information can be shared faster than ever• Communication can happen anywhere, at any

time• Learning frequently comes from peer-to-peer

collaboration rather than top-down broadcasting

• Technology can be used to reach students in new ways


What to know

Information can be shared faster than ever • Good: Easier contacting students in cases of

emergency via email, text messages, etc.• Bad: Misinformation can also be shared faster

than ever. Students and their parents may blow up situations to be worse than they are.

• Solution: Be aware of potential problems and try to pre-empt these problems with (correct) information of your own.


What to know

Communication can happen anywhere, at any time


What to knowInformation can be shared faster than ever


What to knowTechnology can be used to reach students in new ways

• Good: Twitter for personalized information, quick reminders/announcements, advising via email, blog, Twitter, instant messenger – reach students where they are. Creating an online space for students to share information pre-departure

• Bad: You could miss out on important advising information – students don’t bring everything up or may feel less comfortable disclosing things to a “faceless” advisor.

• Solution: Use technology only to the extent that you and your students are comfortable. You may want to require that students have a face-to-face meeting with an advisor even if they’ve already had an online advising session or received information via your website/email.


What to know

Learning frequently comes from peer-to-peer collaboration rather than top-down information-broadcasting

• Good: students acting as peer advisors or sharing information that advisors don’t have

• Bad: students sharing incorrect information or dwelling on the negative

• Solution: Guided peer mentoring programs, advisor-reviewed blogs and testimonials, “myth-busting” sessions.


What to knowInformation can be shared faster than ever

*Protected


You Talkin’ About Me?

You should at the very least be listening to

conversations about your organization/programs.

You can't hide your head in the sand anymore. Put your ear to the ground using searches:• Within a platform

o Twitter (also Tweetdeck or Summarize, tweetmeme)

o Facebooko MySpace



• Google o Google Search: Click 'Show Options' to

narrow down searcho Google Alerts: e-mail notificationo Google Blog Search: blogsearch.google.com


You Talkin’ About Me? • Multiple platform searches

o Spy: Twitter/FriendFeed/Flickr/BackType

o SamePoint: FriendFeed, MyBlogLog, Twitter, Blogger, Wordpress.com, Diigo, Digg, etc.

o SocialMention: Technorati.com, Twitter.com,

Facebook.com, Tumblr.com, Youare.com, Rejaw.com, Friendfeed.com, Jaiku.com, Brightkite.com, Diigo, Clipmarks, StumbleUpon, Digg, Reddit, Mixx

o WhosTalkin: Facebook, Friendster, Last.FM, MySpace,

Linkedin, Netblog, Ning, bebo, Xanga, hi5, Delicious, Blinklist, Reddit, Metafilter, MyWeb, etc


You Talkin’ About Me? • Multiple platform searches



• Draw attention to the good stuff. Use Internet media to address the bad stuff.

• In event of attack, let the community correct itself.

• Do NOT respond in anger or defensively.

• Respond honestly and thoughtfully. Admit you made a mistake.

• Last resort: sanctions.



• Who's on your team? Who else at your organization needs to monitor public opinion?o Admissionso Communications or Community Relationso Director of Web Communicationso Public Affairso Director of Media Relationso Legal counsel/advisor


Resources for Further Information

• Using Google Reader to consolidate searches: http://www.chrisbrogan.com/grow-bigger-ears-in-10-minutes/

• Multi-platform searches: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-search-multiple-social-media-sites-at-a-time/

• Tweetmeme: http://mashable.com/2009/05/12/tweetmeme-deep-link-search/

• RyanAir example: http://econsultancy.com/blog/3346-ryanair-freaks-out-at-blogger-disses-wordpress-shoots-foot

• Hulu example: http://mashable.com/2009/01/28/social-media-revolt/