Digital social networks and the Academy

Professor Frank RennieLews Castle College

University of the Highlands and Islands

The Main Issues• What is social networking?• What is it used for?• How can it be used in education?• Pros and Cons• Why is this important?• How does it impact upon individuals and

communities?

What we tend to think•Social media is…• A waste of time• Only for young people• Complex and difficult• Dangerous• Uncontrolled• A free way of maximising impact• Prohibited by our university, school, or organisation

What we actually know• Most universities use social media actively• They are mostly being used to disseminate views, etc.• Mostly being used to network with other researchers• Only used by a minority of researchers• Confusion about best practice uses• Confusion about which media is best for each task• Big differences between individual and institutional uses• They are becoming essential for funders and dissemination• No real consensus on guidelines for use

Web 2.0• Interactive rather than Broadcast• Participative rather than a passive receptor• Collaborative rather than a single author–Wikis, Blogs, Video, Audio, Social Networks…..

• Attention rather than Information is premium• Tests truth and its application• Context in addition to Contents• Personalised learning – multi-media etc.

http://www.freefoto.com/preview/01-17-2/Spiders-Web

Communities of Inquiry• Social Presence– identification within a community with trusted relationships

• Cognitive Presence– constructing knowledge, discussing, confirming, reflecting

• Teaching Presence– a consistent pedagogical approach to facilitation of the above to

enable worthwhile leaning experiences

Facebook: “This is the research I like”

Useful for:• Creating communities of

practice and groups• Generating discussion & debate• Networking • Mixing media (text, images,

video, etc.)• Promoting projects & events

Limitations:• Care needed to separate public

and private posts• Issues of copyright and re-use• Can trivialise information

• Ethical considerations

Twitter: “Here is what I am researching right now”Useful for:

• Broadcasting ideas, opinions, events• Following ongoing projects and

events• Networking with peers• Sharing news

Limitations:

• Fast-moving (might miss tweets)• Audiences follow themes (be

careful not mix messages)• Mixing professional and private• Short bites of information

(though can link with websites)• Ethical considerations

Linkedin: “My research skills include…”

Useful for:• Professional networking• Connecting with non-academic

audiences• Promoting your skills• Following career opportunities

Limitations:• Limited interactivity• Not peer reviewed

Researchgate: “My recent research papers”

Useful for:• Setting research profiles• Linking with peers• Jobs updates• Research news and trends• Easy to use• Can disseminate articles

Limitations:• Passive rather than proactive• Needs maintenance• Requires an institutional email

address• Many abandoned profiles• Not highly intuative

Wordpress: “What I think about my research subject”

Useful for:• Personal diaries or research logs• Work in progress• News about areas of interest• Building followers• Following the work of key

individuals or organisations

Limitations:• Needs to be focussed on a

specific topic• Needs regular posts (small and

frequently)

Google Photos: “Look at my research pictures”

Useful for:• Sharing images• Searching for images• Building album• Promotion• Time-lines• Geo-location

Limitations:• Image based• Can get lost in the crowd• Issues of copyright and sharing• A mix of personal and

professional

YouTube: “Here is a video of my research”

Useful for:• Sharing video images• Demonstrating practice• Connecting with a (very) large

audience• Promoting a brand• Encouraging interaction• Multi-lingual messages

Limitations:• A crowded market place (needs

to be worth watching)• Needs time to produce

Hyper-interactivity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnQcCgS7aPQ

Recommendations• Consider what benefit(s) social media could have for your research• Consider what medium best suits your requirements• Link to your website and/or blog• Keep it simple• Pay attention to regular maintenance• Try not to mix personal and professional contacts• Build specific social media tasks into research dissemination plans

Networked learning (amazon.co.uk)

Time for a study…?

View this presentation again atwww.slideshare.net/frankrennieMore info at www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/frennieBloghttps://uheye.wordpress.com/