Talking Stick - May/June 2011 - 65

CONTINUED

Here, There, and Everywhere

professional, graduate, and student staff training sessions. This allowed a seamless flow of information between and among all levels. During many training sessions and at meals, a stream of participants’ tweets was projected on a screen. The feed was also introduced to professional and graduate staff before student staff returned for training. “We set up the screen the last night of our graduate training so all could interact and ask questions before RA staff arrived. I think
40 CONTINUED

that staff probably had more fun with the screen than the student staff. They seemed to set the tone in appreciating others and fueling friendly rivalries between building staffs,” says Macier. Throughout the training program, Twitter was used to deliver information and updates, as well as to poll student staff. At the very least, using Twitter as a resource made training participants aware of this form of social media and thus likely to use it again as a means of professional development. As Macier

explains, “The tag we used was event specific for training. I think the largest ongoing result of training was that people signed up for Twitter for the first time and from there followed our main housing account. If nothing else, they are now at least aware of the potential of social media.” TS
Stacy Oliver
is the assistant director of housing and residence life at Indiana University South Bend.

Meet in the Middle

unified social media strategies. What we find is that there might be staff in one area using social media in great ways, staff in a different area using social media in different yet equally great ways, and not much in between. There is no higherlevel coordination of an institution’s social media efforts. This level of disorganization would never happen in the corporate sector. I suspect that one of the reasons for this pattern is that higher-level university administrators (a) don’t know much about social media, (b) have made up their minds that social media are bad, and/or (c) don’t see much of a place for social media in education. University administrators don’t think like social media enthusiasts; they don’t grasp how beneficial social media can be in engaging students, aiding in communication, promoting student learning, and supporting collaboration. Conversely, social media enthusiasts don’t think like university administrators; they don’t consider that it’s important to provide data and facts beyond the idea that “social media is a great tool to connect with students.” Administrators want to hear about impact before committing to overarching strategies and investments. We’ve got to meet in the middle. TS

Showers for Life...
Meridian Solid Surface
 Custom

Shower Bases for Remodel Applications Shower Bases Panels

...College Life ...Dormitory Life ...Daily Life

 Standard

 Shower Wall  Shower

Accessories

MASSILLON,OHIO

330.837.2216

Durable Renewable Stain-Resistant Solid Throughout

www.TowerShowers.com
MAY + JUNE 2011

http://www.TowerShowers.com http://www.TowerShowers.com

Talking Stick - May/June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - May/June 2011