Cultural and Geographic Variations in Social Media use by higher education instructors with

their studentsAn Open Research Proposal

Terry Eberhart

November 17th, 2011

Social Media

• Exponential Growth Continues• Penetration into Higher Education has become widespread

– At least in developed countries• Technology, Platforms, and Applications evolve and change rapidly• Policies range from virtually non-existent to highly regulated, from

very open to highly restrictive.• Legal Regulations and Issues arise from numerous sources with

different implications. The “Rules” are not well established and stable.

• Intercultural interactions are widespread and growing.• Different cultures have different expectations on student-faculty

interactions.

Social MediaUse in Education

• Educator Perspectives often differ significantly– Often with great personal energy and emotion behind them.

– Discussions between educators on platforms such as LinkedIn have been some of the most expansive and strongly expressive among all types of discussions.

Social MediaUse in Education

• Legal Implications – Differ by geography– Differ by school types– Differ by age groups they serve

– New ones arise on a frequent basis• (and sometimes go away as well)

Social MediaUse in Education

• Recent Examples:– Missouri State in U.S.• Bans public K-12 teachers from being “Friends” on

facebook in August 2011• Law is repealed 2 months later

– At some US For-Profit Colleges:• Being a “Friend” on facebook with a student is grounds

for termination of employment. – Just Today: Georgia Tech• Removes all class wikis from the web citing privacy

concerns

Social MediaUse in Education

• Cultures vary in interactions– In some western cultures, a “professional” distance is

expected– In some eastern cultures, a mentor or guide role can set

up an expectation of a closer relationship. – As an educator for India relayed: Rejecting a friend request

on facebook from a student would likely be seen as a rejection of the student as a person – to the student and to others.

• What happens when a student and a teacher from different cultures interact?

Social MediaUse in Education

• Seems like a need exist.

• Seems like an opportunity.

• Why don’t we collaborate….• Why don’t we investigate…..• Why don’t we work together….• And share the learnings.

Social MediaUse in Education

• Looking for a few (or many) individuals…. across the globe, cultures, and environments.

– To work on an open research project in this area.– “Social Media use between Educators and Students”

• “Initial thoughts are in Higher Education”• I could be swayed to expand if there was interest (and

volunteers.)

Social MediaUse in Education

• The methods are up for choice• Surveys• Observations• Blogs• Forums• Many options

• This may be a “Living” project given the dynamic nature we face.

Social MediaUse in Education

• When?– Would like to kick off actual activities in January– Need to collect interested parties and methodology in the

meantime

• How do I make my interest known?Contact:– Terry Eberhart– Email: Digin4ed @ Gmail.com– Twitter @Digin4ed