Using social software in the MDE

Dr. Stella Porto Master of Distance Education Graduate School of Management & Technology University of Maryland University College

http://www.slideshare.net/sporto/using-social-software-in-the-mde

Agenda

•  Focus of this presentation •  Introduction

  Background & context

•  The Social Software experience in the MDE   Our activities   Lessons learned   Synergy and future

•  Final remarks

Focus of this presentation

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.

This presentation discusses a set of MDE initiatives developed beyond classroom instruction using social software tools.

Introduction: Context & Background – the MDE partnership

Context and landscape Oldenburg

Introduction: Context & background: the program

•  Core competencies   Managing the DE system in a

variety of settings   Planning, budgeting,

development, delivery, and support of distance education and distance training programs

•  Target Audience   Potential managers of the

distance education enterprise in:   Educational organizations   Corporate / Business   Government & Military   Non-profit and associations

•  Entirely online for part-time working adults

•  International •  Collaborative

Faculty Support

Instruction Design & Support

Leaders & Managers

Higher Education

Media & technology

Corporate Training & Learning

Distance Education

Introduction: Institutional Student support

•  Enrollment management / Registrar   Admissions   Financial aid   Registration   Advising   Graduation

•  Portal with self-services •  Academic specialist within the

department •  Program director •  Library •  Office of disabilities

Social media: what it is

Social media: what it can do for us BEYOND instruction

•  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

•  Sandbox for experiments, especially useful for distance educators   Learning with technology   Learning through technology   Acquiring skills   Developing technological competencies   Tools: ALL

Social media: what it can do for us BEYOND instruction

•  Individual and collaborative means for producing and sharing content   Generation of user content   Building collective knowledge   Tools: blogs, wikis, collaborative documents, etc.

•  Information diffusion and immediate feedback   Immediate communication with stakeholders   Collective feedback and appreciation   Tools: blogs, social networking, wikis, …

•  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

BLOGS

VIDEOS

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

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: The MDE wiki

The MDE wiki on new technologies • Knowledge-base • Information sharing • Meta-learning

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

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The capstone tutorial

The MDE tutorial • Support for e-portfolio • Precursor of the MDE capstone wiki • Direct relationship with instruction

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 internship program

The MDE internship program • Getting your feet wet as a distance educator • Supporting the program • Engaging in action research

The MDE Student Support Social Media Suite: The MDE Buddy Program

The MDE buddy-system • Peer-support • Student initiative • Action research project

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: The MDE Itinerant Video

The MDE Itinerant video project • Graduate initiative • Celebration of the 10th anniversary • Community involvement

Tools and more tools: Allison’s toolbox

Who is Allison? Allison is an MDE 2008 graduate and an collaborator in the MDE network…

Learning lessons…

 There is a need for an active leadership role in all initiatives  Continuously invite community

 Reach out to new students  Most participants are lurkers and that’s fine!  Integrating tools creates synergy  Students want to get involved, but they need a HAND

 A few active members generate significant impact  Being personal is key  Ongoing projects and activities  Focus on respond to the needs of stakeholders

Synergy and future

 Projects led and suggested by graduates  Relationship with other UMUC units  Partnerships in publishing and academic work

 Virtual conference for 10th anniversary celebration  Podcast series  Webinars  Special interest groups

Final remarks

 Thinking beyond the classroom  Enthusiasm is contagious  Experiment, experiment and experiment…  Count on your graduates and students  Networking 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: sporto@umuc.edu

Introduction: Background

•  Necessary 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