02.06.06
Posted in "Bloginions", INSTRUCTional Technology at 6:39 pm by lisa
A hot topic in the Web 2.0 world is the importance of harnassing collective intelligence. Knowledge management itself is not a new idea but the willingness to share the knowledge and allow for collaboration is a step forward in recognizing that innovation develops from the minds of many.
This graphic is from Dion Hinchcliffe’s blog Five Great Ways to Harness Collective Intelligence. Expanding upon Ellyssa Kroski’s article, The Hype and Hullabaloo of Web 2.0, Dion outlines his top five ideas for leveraging collective intelligence:
Be The Hub of A Hard To Recreate Data Source
Seek Collective Intelligence Out
Trigger Large-Scale Network Effects
Provide A Folksonomy
Create a Reverse Intelligence Filter
Currently my department at UMW, DTLT is working on creating a community intranet for knowledge sharing. Dion and Ellyssa’s research can offer some valuable guidelines, resources and ideas to help us manage our collective intelligence.
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02.02.06
Posted in D I S T A N C E Learning, The Bu$ine$$ of Blogs at 3:00 pm by lisa
College and University Admissions departments are expanding their marketing strategies to include emerging technologies such as blogs, podcasts, videocasts and online chat sessions. With a focus on prospective students, promotional videos, virtual tours and student interviews serve as a hook for visitors wanting to learn more about college programs, student life and current campus events.
An article in Pittsburg’s Post Gazette showcases colleges using blogs in the admission process by appealing to prospective applicants with a combination of information and personal perspectives. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the MyMIT experience allows students to access blog posts by admission officers, the Director of Student Financial Aid, students and featured guests such as the Director of Recruitment, the Dean Of Admissions or the Director of the Educational Council at MIT.
“We’re not reinventing the wheel, we’re just going where they already are,” said Matt McGann, an MIT admissions officer. “We’re trying to take the mystery out of this college admissions process a bit.”
A good example of podcasting in Admissions can be seen at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana where the Office of Marketing and Communications has launched a new weekly podcast show with IvyTech Podcasts. You can even subscribe to their broadcasts with an RSS feed.
Locally, George Mason University uses a promotional videocast. Click on View Mason Movies and watch the Fast Forward movie for an exceptional look at GMU’s past, present and future. Another good example of this media can be found at the Virginia Military Institute website. VMI’s admissions video strives for student committment with it’s historical and patriotic flare. Taking it one step further by adding virtual tours of the surrounding city, the Savannah College of Art and Design baits prospective students with an extensive Admissions Video Gallery.
Have a question? Want to talk to a person and get specific information? Live chat sessions are now being offered by colleges and universities. The Admissions department of Christopher Newport University regularly schedules online chats for undergraduates interested in finding out more about programs and the admission process.
These are just a few examples of how higher ed is providing timely information to prospective students and capitalizing on marketing with technology. What’s on your institution’s horizon?
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01.23.06
Posted in "Bloginions" at 8:50 pm by lisa
UMW
is in process of searching for a new President. Today was the first opportunity for the faculty, staff and student population to meet the final candidates, listen to their visions and ask questions. As with any public forum, this type of “conversation” generated between the audience and the candidate serves to flush out concerns and define issues. But it is standing in front of the microwave, converging in the hallway or walking to the bathrooms that opinions are stated, stands are taken, attitudes are formed and decisions are made.
Back at my desk, I hear “blog, blog, blog” in my head from a persistent director and I began to wonder just how much blogging is really catching on in our environment? Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search? Our nation witnessed a great explosion of media coverage from bloggers during the last Presidential campaign. For better or worse, it represented democracy and a nation on the cutting edge of technology. We may be choosing a president of a college not a nation but again I ask Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search?. Yes, we have been invited to share our opinions in a formally appointed place on the official website, but will that suffice? We have already seen a flurry of e-mails from those who would like to use their voice. Should e-mails suffice? Articles will be written in the Bullet, UMW’s student paper, as well as the faculty/staff paper, the Grapevine. Again I ask Where are the political blogs of the Presidential Search?. Are we not as a university striving to be on the cutting edge of technology as well?
Would a presidential search of a small liberal arts college not benefit from political blogs the same way our nation did? Or are we still hesitating on sharing our opinions publicly if it could mean possible ramifications? Blogs are exposure. Are we comfortable or not?
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12.21.05
Posted in INSTRUCTional Technology at 5:25 pm by lisa
Winter break is here!
See you in January!
Lisa
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