Tag Archives: media platforms

Social Media Class at JDCC: Students Building Strong Social Media Skills

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Student in computer class at JDCC (used by permission).

Social Media Class at JDCC

In the social media class that I teach at Jefferson Davis Community College, students are learning how to use different social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook Pages, Google+, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and blogs.

This is an online class and students were required to communicate with me and other students in the class using social media tools. The primary mode of communication throughout the semester was Twitter. It was interesting responding to students’ questions in 140 characters or less. If the explanation required more than 140 characters, they were usually referred to a demonstration video. On a few occasions we relied on email.

Learning Management System – Blackboard

Class assignments were set up in Blackboard. Blackboard was used for class announcements and for recording grades.

Project Based

Students were required to read assignments and communicate with each other using Twitter. Students completed projects such as creating a Facebook Page and designing the cover using PowerPoint. Students learned to create a LinkedIn Profile. They learned the importance of building their professional network. Students learned to connect with people who shared their interests using Google+. Hangouts are a feature of Google+ that I hope to develop more in the next class.

Students have reported that they have enjoyed the class. There have been a few frustrating moments. Probably the most difficult for most students was setting up their first blog. But by the time they got to their first blog project, students felt comfortable asking for help from each other as they had been required to tweet each other throughout the semester.  Students had to move beyond the initial fear of writing and the fear of  everyone being able to see their writing assignments.

Probably the easiest and by far the most fun was Pinterest. There was some frustration when students discovered they had to receive an invitation before opening a Pinterest account. Students are learning how they can use Pinterest to drive traffic to their website and to engage customers.

Social Media Etiquette

Social media etiquette has been a big part of the class. Students are learning how to build a positive web presence that can be an asset to them when looking for the perfect job. They are developing strong social media skills that will be one more asset to help them find good jobs or help them to advance in their current jobs. Many varied jobs require strong social media skills. The class helps students to build a portfolio to show off their social media skills to potential employers.

Create Videos and Post to YouTube

At the end of the semester, students created videos and posted to YouTube. Students then posted their videos to their blogs and shared across multiple social media platforms.

Would you be Interested in Learning More about Social Media?

You may be interested in taking the social media class beginning August 13,2012, through Jefferson Davis Community College. I will teach the class both online and on campus. For more details about the class, check our webpage at Jefferson Davis Community College or give me at call at 251-809-1671.

I plan to share a few of my students’ video assignments on my website and other social media platforms.

Nora is one of the students in my social media class. Her video is entitled The Algebra Gift: Can You Guess What is in the Box? Check out her video below.

You may also be interested in reading:

The Algebra Gift (Nora Coxwell)

Why Social Media Should be Taught in the Community College (carolhbates)

The Role of Social Media in the Community College (Charles Davis III)

Muskegon Community College Social Media Class Article (Christopher VanOosterhout)

4 Examples of Using Social Media and the Olympics in the College Classroom: Increase Student Engagement by Adding Excitement to you Lesson Plans.

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Are your students bored in your classroom this summer? Will you stick to your same old lesson plans?

College instructors have an opportunity to take advantage of the excitement over the next few weeks.

The Olympics games will officially begin this month.  The 2012 Olympics begin Friday, July 27, and conclude Sunday, Aug. 12. How can college instructors capitalize on the new social media tools to increase student engagement and improve retention during summer semester classes? One way is to involve students in the Olympics.

There will be opportunities as never before imagined to engage students in the Olympics in London through the use of powerful social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+. Some people are referring to the games as the  “Socialympics.”

While social media has been around for several past Olympics, the amount of people on social media has grown exponentially making it vastly bigger in scale and magnitude. Facebook had only 100 million users during the Beijing Games 4 years ago compared with 900 million users today. Twitter has grown from 6 million to 150 million.

Time reports that the IOC is planning life chats with athletes from the Olympic village allowing students the opportunity to pose questions using social media.

We are at a dawn of a new age of sharing and connecting, and London 2012 will ignite the first conversational Olympic Games, thanks to social media platforms and technology

Alex Huot, the IOC’s head of social media,

4 Examples for adapting your lesson plans to create excitement around social media and the Olympics.

  1. Have students share articles highlighting their favorite Olympic sports in Google+ or Facebook. Google+ is well-suited for sharing photos of the Olympics. Students add value to the photos by writing their own description. Students can comment on the posts of other students or reshare the posts of others.
  2. YouTube is an excellent resource for viewing and sharing videos. Videos of the triumphs and struggles of the Olympic athletes can lead into a discussion  on many topics such as goal setting, work ethic, and time management skills. Others topics of discussion might be eating disorders, aging, and balance.
  3. Google Hangouts are a way to connect up to 10 students at a time. Hangouts are very easy to learn. You only need an inexpensive webcam and microphone to connect to your computer. Hangouts can be used on the phone or iPad as well by downloading an app.  Students can share interesting videos about the Olympics and they can share their reactions with each other.
  4. Twitter is used the most by people following the Olympics. Students can practice writing skills be highlighting informative articles in 140 characters or less. Students can then attach an article to the tweet providing more information and engagement.

The official motto of the Olympics is swifter, higher, stronger.

Why not use this motto to motivate your students to develop the skills to achieve in their chosen career?

Students become bored with college during the summer months and wish they were taking off the summer like many of their friends. Engage your students by adding some excitement to your lesson plans.

You may also be interested in reading:

Social media’s role in Olympics grows with surge in users

What You Can Learn from Olympic Athletes (EMILY MAIN)

Google+ Hangouts

10 Questions for Dara Torres (Alice Park)