Web Trends in Higher Education

Information Ownership Institutions are no longer the only source of information. Can’t stop this phenomenon. Students will find information if not provided by the institution, school, department, or program. Numerous alternative sources that may not provide timely or positive information. You must be the biggest purveyor of the most relevant and timely information.

Institutions are no longer the only source of information. Can’t stop this phenomenon.

Students will find information if not provided by the institution, school, department, or program.

Numerous alternative sources that may not provide timely or positive information.

You must be the biggest purveyor of the most relevant and timely information.

Web 2.0 Web 2.0 is a term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web. Social-networking sites Blogs Video sharing sites Google docs, wikis folksonomies

Web 2.0 is a term describing changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to enhance creativity, information sharing, collaboration and functionality of the web.

Social-networking sites

Blogs

Video sharing sites

Google docs, wikis

folksonomies

Social Networking and Blogs

29 % of university admissions departments now use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, to recruit new students. Blogs can be an authentic way to convey the personality of your school or department, you need to hear from the people who make up those communities. Check out UC Davis Admissions office at http://admissions.ucdavis.edu/contact/directory.cfm . They have: * Admissions Facebook Group * Admissions MySpace Page * UC Davis YouTube Channel * UC Davis iTunes University

29 % of university admissions departments now use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace, to recruit new students.

Blogs can be an authentic way to convey the personality of your school or department, you need to hear from the people who make up those communities.

Facebook Example Launched February 2008. Several hundred hits a day from prospective students. Features posting like video of the 2008 valedictorian's speech or pictures previous MBA formal. Students post messages on the page's "Wall", asking about registration deadlines or when they can come to campus to visit a class.

Launched February 2008.

Several hundred hits a day from prospective students.

Features posting like video of the 2008 valedictorian's speech or pictures previous MBA formal.

Students post messages on the page's "Wall", asking about registration deadlines or when they can come to campus to visit a class.

MySpace UC Davis

Student Blogs

Before you sign up Do you really need a social networking site or blog? How and who will maintain it? Will the culture in you school, department, support it?

Do you really need a social networking site or blog?

How and who will maintain it?

Will the culture in you school, department, support it?

Keep in Mind The public social networking concept is not a public service. Create in-house policies. Know who your dealing with and make sure your department can deal with associated privacy and copyright risks. Different constituents need different solutions. Test drive any solution you choose. Follow the laws of the vendor.

The public social networking concept is not a public service.

Create in-house policies.

Know who your dealing with and make sure your department can deal with associated privacy and copyright risks.

Different constituents need different solutions.

Test drive any solution you choose.

Follow the laws of the vendor.

Web Syndication Web Syndication is a concept that enhances the web experience by helping users to keep track of the updates made to their favorite Web sites, blogs, and web content in general. Universities and RSS (Really Simply Syndication) • General campus news • Event schedule • Athletics news

Web Syndication is a concept that enhances the web experience by helping users to keep track of the updates made to their favorite Web sites, blogs, and web content in general.

Universities and RSS (Really Simply Syndication) • General campus news • Event schedule • Athletics news

Benefits Easy to scan structure of headlines and content summary. Users opt-in to content of interest and can decide when and if to opt-out. Publisher is not involved in privacy issues. Information can be themed to meet the need of the audience. Secure channel that can’t be spammed. Timely information received.

Easy to scan structure of headlines and content summary.

Users opt-in to content of interest and can decide when and if to opt-out. Publisher is not involved in privacy issues.

Information can be themed to meet the need of the audience.

Secure channel that can’t be spammed.

Timely information received.

UMC RSS Google Readers

McGill RSS News

Rich Media Content

Rich Media Content Web content now includes audio, video, animation, and other interactive elements. Enhanced computer performance and broadband access is now common. Rich media delivery via web provides a more compelling experience for users.

Web content now includes audio, video, animation, and other interactive elements.

Enhanced computer performance and broadband access is now common.

Rich media delivery via web provides a more compelling experience for users.

Advantages Studies show that people retain: 10% of information read 20% of the information heard 50% of the information they see and hear. Effective in reaching millennial students. Results are measurable almost immediately.

Studies show that people retain: 10% of information read 20% of the information heard 50% of the information they see and hear.

Effective in reaching millennial students.

Results are measurable almost immediately.

Loyola Marymount

Challenges Accessibility is the largest challenge. Higher education authorities are dubious of “innovative” or student created rich media. Quality control requires dedicated staff and resources. High expectations from audience.

Accessibility is the largest challenge.

Higher education authorities are dubious of “innovative” or student created rich media.

Quality control requires dedicated staff and resources.

High expectations from audience.

Re-thinking E-mail

Unplugging E-mail Users frustrated by spam and other misuse. Studies show up to 81% of messages are spam. Reports show that college students are missing important timely e-mail messages about deadlines, class cancellations, and events, like ice-cream socials. Institution e-mails no longer have a priority tag. Everything has the same urgency reducing the need to read the e-mail.

Users frustrated by spam and other misuse. Studies show up to 81% of messages are spam.

Reports show that college students are missing important timely e-mail messages about deadlines, class cancellations, and events, like ice-cream socials.

Institution e-mails no longer have a priority tag. Everything has the same urgency reducing the need to read the e-mail.

If you do e-mail Create a brand and visual identity Be timely and relevant Be consistent Subject line is vital Consider other options like RSS and e-newsletters Promote news, events, Web site features, solicitations, etc.

Create a brand and visual identity

Be timely and relevant

Be consistent

Subject line is vital

Consider other options like RSS and e-newsletters

Promote news, events, Web site features, solicitations, etc.

A&S Solution

The academic community must embrace new and emerging practices and technologies to stay competitive. Policy should encourage and support experimentation and implementation.