OU instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook
Students increasingly using social media
Good way to recruit via their networks
Subject level
Gives human face
Active Facebook groups (threaten Moodle forums)
Soc Med helps blur boundaries
Fit inbetween, keep engaged
Make social connection
Social connection on campus increases retention
Students feel less isolated
Can ease anxiety
Online is integral part of all jobs
Knowing how to operate online is essential
It is our duty to ensure students leave with soc media skills & knowledge
Participation is the only way to do this
Can provide a safe space for this
New skills relating to authenticity
Tracking info sources
Digital community
Webchats
Open courses
Web quests
Create own content
Open textbooks
Open access papers get more views
Papers tweeted or blogged get more citations
Can use soc med to generate interest
REF impact case
Funders value open profile
Create video, blogs, etc around paper
Organise webinar, tweet chats on research
Can explore topics not in formal research
Social Media analysis
Recruiting subjects
Spreading tools, surveys
Dissemination
Getting feedback on ideas
Formal reputation is less important online
Can build following & reputation
PhDs & Profs have largest networks
Some protection against precarious labour?
Online connections can be more important
If not part of it then could be excluded
Get asked onto projects because of network
As everyday academic life becomes more monitored & controlled
Online is where you can experiment
Discuss
Find space
(It can also be very dark)
Not everyone’s online experience is the same
Can be subject to misogyny, racism, abuse
Some subject areas attract trolls
Academics still have to play by conventional rules as well
We have to balance duty to develop students skills with our duty of care for them
Academics still have to play by conventional rules as well