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Presentation made at MDLA'2010 covering the topic of using social media to support online students.
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Learner support through social software: a graduate experience
Dr. Stella PortoMaster of Distance EducationGraduate School of Management & TechnologyUniversity of Maryland University College
Focus
This presentation discusses how social software can be used to support learners (beyond instruction) and provides several examples from the experience of a graduate program at UMUC.
Agenda
• Introduction Background & context
• The Social Software & the experience in the MDE How social software can be used to support
students? Our activities Some 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: Contextthe MDE partnership
Introduction: ContextThe program
• Potential managers of the DE enterprise
• Entirely online for part-time working adults
• International• Collaborative
FacultySupport
FacultySupport
InstructionDesign &Support
InstructionDesign &Support
Leaders &Managers
Leaders &Managers
HigherEducation
HigherEducation
Media & technology
Media & technology
CorporateTraining &Learning
CorporateTraining &Learning
DistanceEducation
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.
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.
Social media: what it is
Social media for support
in the MDE
BLOGS
VIDEOS
SOCIAL NETWORKING
WIKIS
Social media for learner support
• Information diffusion and immediate feedback Immediate communication with stakeholders Collective feedback and appreciation Tools: blogs, social networking, wikis, …
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Hub
The MDE Hub•The one-stop-shop for ALL MDE related information•Extremely flexible platform
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: 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
Social media for learner support
• Expanding knowledge in field of interest Sharing new information and utilizing new
media Program-wide projects Tools: audio, video, and image tools,
blogs, social networking, …
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE capstone wiki
The MDE capstone wiki•Support for final capstone: e-portfolio & research project•Information sharing•Direct relationship with instruction (permanent)
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE internship program
The MDE internship program•Getting your feet wet as a distance educator•Supporting the program•Engaging in action research
Social media for learner support
• Individual and collaborative means for producing and sharing content Generation of user content Building collective knowledge Tools: blogs, wikis, collaborative
documents, etc.
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE wiki
The MDE wiki on new technologies•Knowledge-base•Information sharing•Meta-learning
Tools and more tools: Allison’s toolbox
Who is Allison?Allison is an MDE 2008 graduate and an collaborator in the MDE network…
Social media for learner support
• Virtual communities: cultivate a blend of challenge and support Sharing beyond virtual classroom Social network Peer support Tools: any social network tool or online
group tools
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Lounge
The MDE-lounge•Real interaction•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Faculty Forum
The Faculty-forum•Management effectiveness•Privacy, listserv mode, discussion board, simple and not-invasive
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: social network services
Presence in social networks•Connections with graduates and prospective students•Marketing
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: MDE Orientation
The MDE orientation•Workshop with direct instructor-led support•Information sharing•Direct support to instruction
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Buddy Program
The MDE buddy-system•Peer-support•Student initiative•Action research project
Social media for learner support
• Sandbox for experiments, especially useful for distance educators Learning with technology Learning through technology Acquiring skills Developing technological competencies Tools: ALL
The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Itinerant Video
The MDE Itinerant video project•Graduate initiative•Celebration of the 10th anniversary•Community involvement
The MDE Student Support: The MDE social bookmarking project
Learning lessons…
There is a need for an active leadership role in all initiativesContinuously invite community
Reach out to new studentsMost 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 remarks
Thinking beyond the classroomEnthusiasm is contagiousExperiment, experiment and experiment…Count on your graduates and studentsNetworking is essential to everyone for different reasons
Thank you!
Questions?
Presentation can be found at:http://www.slideshare.net/sporto/using-social-software-in-the-mde
Contact: [email protected]
