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