What is IT, and What Do I Need to Know about IT? Karen Thurmond Director of Academic Advising and Degree Planning Resources The University of Memphis Rules of Thumb for Advising Administrators

Learning Outcomes Participants will: Expand their knowledge of the concept of social networking Explore a model for making decisions about the adoption of Web 2.0 and other IT applications for use in academic advising Have a basic and general (not institution specific) understanding of campus resources for IT solutions Discuss and explore key questions for academic advising administrators contemplating using social netowrking and IT solutions

Participants will:

Expand their knowledge of the concept of social networking

Explore a model for making decisions about the adoption of Web 2.0 and other IT applications for use in academic advising

Have a basic and general (not institution specific) understanding of campus resources for IT solutions

Discuss and explore key questions for academic advising administrators contemplating using social netowrking and IT solutions

Many thumbs… See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting. Most scientists forget that. Douglas Adams

See first, think later, then test. But always see first. Otherwise you will only see what you were expecting. Most scientists forget that. Douglas Adams

The Big Questions Does the increase of the use of technology in academic advising signal the eventual demise of academic advisors? Does our participation in or utilization of social networking applications minimize the importance of our role in higher education?

Does the increase of the use of technology in academic advising signal the eventual demise of academic advisors?

Does our participation in or utilization of social networking applications minimize the importance of our role in higher education?

Quick poll 1.Technology may minimize advising 2.Technology may enhance advising 3.Technology does not have any substantive connection to advising 4.Technology scares me (FERPA) 5.Technology gives me too much work to do 6.Technology is a solution to some advising dilemmas

What is a social network? In its simplest form, a social network is a map of all of the relevant ties between the nodes being studied. The network can also be used to determine the social capital of individual actors. http://connect.educause.edu/Library/EDUCAUSE+Review/SocialNetworkingTechnolog/40692

Why social networks matter Social network analysis views social relationships in terms of nodes and ties . Research in a number of academic fields has shown that social networks play a critical role in determining the way problems are solved, organizations are run, and the degree to which individuals succeed in achieving their goals.

Small world problem Milgram's experiment developed out of a desire to learn more about the probability that two randomly selected people would know each other. Milgram's experiment was designed to measure these path lengths by developing a procedure to count the number of ties between any two people.

Six degrees of Kevin Bacon Notable Bacon numbers Ronald Reagan (Bacon number: 2) Ronald Reagan was in The Young Doctors (1961) with Eddie Albert . Eddie Albert was in The Big Picture (1989) with Kevin Bacon. Pope John Paul II (Bacon number: 3) Pope John Paul II was in Padre Pio — Tra cielo e terra (2000) with Giovanni Lombardo Radice . Giovanni Lombardo Radice was in The Omen (2006) with Vee Vimolmal Vee Vimolmal was in Where the Truth Lies (2005) with Kevin Bacon

Notable Bacon numbers

Ronald Reagan (Bacon number: 2)

Ronald Reagan was in The Young Doctors (1961) with Eddie Albert .

Eddie Albert was in The Big Picture (1989) with Kevin Bacon.

Pope John Paul II (Bacon number: 3)

Pope John Paul II was in Padre Pio — Tra cielo e terra (2000) with Giovanni Lombardo Radice .

Giovanni Lombardo Radice was in The Omen (2006) with Vee Vimolmal

Vee Vimolmal was in Where the Truth Lies (2005) with Kevin Bacon

Examples: Social Networks Ning http://www.ning.com/ Facebook http://www.facebook.com Myspace http://www.myspace.com Friendster http://www.friendster.com/ LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com

Ning http://www.ning.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com

Myspace http://www.myspace.com

Friendster http://www.friendster.com/

LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com

Advising implications Helping students be active learners Being aware of limitations of technology Recognizing the advantage of technology as a powerful tool for educational and career planning Changing role of advisors particularly full time (Steele, 2006) Affirming advisor’s critical role in the learning of the student .

Helping students be active learners

Being aware of limitations of technology

Recognizing the advantage of technology as a powerful tool for educational and career planning

Changing role of advisors particularly full time (Steele, 2006)

Affirming advisor’s critical role in the learning of the student .

Rogers Rogers, Everett M. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations , Glencoe: Free Press, Ch. 7.

Rogers, Everett M. (1962). Diffusion of Innovations , Glencoe: Free Press, Ch. 7.

The Pencil Metaphor - Lindy McKeown A metaphor for the various positions people assume in relation to the uptake of information and communications technologies.

A metaphor for the various positions people assume in relation to the uptake of information and communications technologies.

The lead-ers (Say led) These are the first to take on the technology, the early adopters who usually document and enthusiastically share what they have tried - warts and all.

These are the first to take on the technology, the early adopters who usually document and enthusiastically share what they have tried - warts and all.

The sharp ones These are the people who see what the early adopters have done, willingly grab the best of it, learn from the mistakes of others and do great stuff with their students and for the organization.

These are the people who see what the early adopters have done, willingly grab the best of it, learn from the mistakes of others and do great stuff with their students and for the organization.

The wood (Would) These people would use the technology if someone would just give them the gear, set it up, train them and keep it running. All they need is some help from some sharp person and they'll be doing it too.

These people would use the technology if someone would just give them the gear, set it up, train them and keep it running. All they need is some help from some sharp person and they'll be doing it too.

The dead wood This part of the pencil can never be sharpened no matter how hard you try. Even when the point is still sharp, this little left over bit doesn't seem to be of much use for the task at hand. In a pinch it can be used for the most basic of tasks.

This part of the pencil can never be sharpened no matter how hard you try. Even when the point is still sharp, this little left over bit doesn't seem to be of much use for the task at hand. In a pinch it can be used for the most basic of tasks.

The eraser This is used to undo as much if not all the work done by the lead-ers.

This is used to undo as much if not all the work done by the lead-ers.

Optional extra - the hanger-on Hangers-on know all the right lingo, attend all the seminars, but just don't actually do anything.

Hangers-on know all the right lingo, attend all the seminars, but just don't actually do anything.

Hype Cycle New Information Technologies 2006

21st Century IT Trends for Colleges & Universities Emerging technologies included in the 2009 edition of the Horizon Report * Mobiles (i.e., mobile devices) Cloud Computing Geo-Everything (i.e., geo-tagging) The Personal Web Semantic-Aware Applications Smart Objects *http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2009/

Expectations versus Realities A growing, far more demanding student population An increasingly complex infrastructure A shift from technology to information strategies--State of the infrastructure IT as added value vs. IT as necessity Advising needs better ways to assess/choose IT models You think you understand the situation, but what you don’t understand is that the situation just changed. (Putnam Investments commercial )

A growing, far more demanding student population

An increasingly complex infrastructure

A shift from technology to information strategies--State of the infrastructure

IT as added value vs. IT as necessity

Advising needs better ways to assess/choose IT models

You think you understand the situation, but what you don’t understand is that the situation just changed. (Putnam Investments commercial )

Flexibility, Creativity, Usefulness Advisors + Web 2.0 = Productivity

Advisors + Web 2.0 = Productivity

Long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead. John Maynard Keynes

Long run is a misleading guide to current

affairs. In the long run we are all dead.

John Maynard Keynes

Suggested Evolution of New Online Services CENTSS* As institutions put services on the Web, they often move through a series of stages from putting information about services on the Web to providing interactive, personalized and customized service via the Web. *Center for Transforming Student Services

Suggested Evolution of New Online Services CENTSS*

As institutions put services on the Web, they often move through a series of stages from putting information about services on the Web to providing interactive, personalized and customized service via the Web.

*Center for Transforming Student Services

Generation 0 This component is missing from the website

This component is missing from the website

Generation 1 Content The information is presented from the institution's point of view, using terminology and organization that mirror the physical organization and processes of the institution.

The information is presented from the institution's point of view, using terminology and organization that mirror the physical organization and processes of the institution.

Generation 2 Content in Context The information is channeled for population segments. For example, there are separate paths for prospective and matriculating students to various student services. These services are distinct entities, however, still reflecting their physical organization.

The information is channeled for population segments. For example, there are separate paths for prospective and matriculating students to various student services. These services are distinct entities, however, still reflecting their physical organization.

Generation 3 Customization, Personalization, and Community New "one-stop" services - like enrollment services - aggregate and integrate a range of related services to provide personalized and customized service from the student's point of view. Transaction services, portals, and communication tools enhance the student's experience.

New "one-stop" services - like enrollment services - aggregate and integrate a range of related services to provide personalized and customized service from the student's point of view. Transaction services, portals, and communication tools enhance the student's experience.

Generation 4 High Tech/High Touch Services are designed to establish and nurture a relationship between the student and the institution. Some of the identifying features include process orientation from the student's point of view, decision-making tools, personal recommendations, proactive communications, and real-time interaction with the institution.

Services are designed to establish and nurture a relationship between the student and the institution. Some of the identifying features include process orientation from the student's point of view, decision-making tools, personal recommendations, proactive communications, and real-time interaction with the institution.

At every step of the decision process, our minds filter out relevant information, rely on flawed rules of thumb, and direct us toward the known and away from the unknown. Paul JH Schoemaker

At every step of the decision process, our minds filter out relevant information, rely on flawed rules of thumb, and direct us toward the known and away from the unknown. Paul JH Schoemaker

Your job is to ask, How could we do it? How could we do it better? How could we do it cheaper? How else could we do it? Ben Krofchak

Your job is to ask, How could we do it? How could we do it better? How could we do it cheaper? How else could we do it? Ben Krofchak

If you are trying to get to the moon, climbing a tree, although a step in the right direction, will not prove to be very helpful. Bob Jueneman

If you are trying to get to the moon, climbing

a tree, although a step in the right direction,

will not prove to be very helpful.

Bob Jueneman

Shall we use this technology, application, or cool thing? What level of cognitive processing does technology assist the student to achieve? How do we know if that level is achieved? Beyond today…can technology help us with these developmental/teaching and learning goals? What affective and psychomotor processing can be achieved with the assistance of technology? What design will help students to surpass the cognitive level achieved with technology alone? How can that design be assessed?

Shall we use this technology, application, or cool thing?

What level of cognitive processing does technology assist the student to achieve?

How do we know if that level is achieved?

Beyond today…can technology help us with these developmental/teaching and learning goals?

What affective and psychomotor processing can be achieved with the assistance of technology?

What design will help students to surpass the cognitive level achieved with technology alone?

How can that design be assessed?

The art and science of academic advising Wisdom Knowledge Information Data Evaluation Synthesis Analysis Application Comprehension Knowledge

Jargon Watch Alpha Geek The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. "Ask Larry, he's the alpha geek around here." Dog Bones The bone-shaped holographic stickers that are used to seal new CD boxes. Supposedly "for your protection" to guard against repackaged used discs. Source: Jargon Watch at http://www.xmission.com/~dtubbs/jargon/jw.html January, 2009).

Alpha Geek The most knowledgeable, technically proficient person in an office or work group. "Ask Larry, he's the alpha geek around here."

Dog Bones The bone-shaped holographic stickers that are used to seal new CD boxes. Supposedly "for your protection" to guard against repackaged used discs.

Source: Jargon Watch at http://www.xmission.com/~dtubbs/jargon/jw.html January, 2009).

Resources Bloom B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, Handbook I: The Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay Co Inc. Davis, S. & Botkins, J. (1994). Monster Under the Bed: How Business is Mastering the Opportunity of Knowledge for Profit . New York: A Touchstone Book, Publisher Simon and Shuster. Milgram, S. "The Small World Problem". Psychology Today, May 1967. pp 60 – 6.7. Travers, Jeffrey & Stanley Milgram. 1969. "An Experimental Study of the Small World Problem." Sociometry , Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 425-443. Steele, G. (2006). Five possible future work profiles for full-time academic advisors. Journal of the National Academic Advising Association, 26(2), 48-64. Lorin W. Anderson, David R. Krathwohl, Peter W. Airasian, Kathleen A. Cruikshank, Richard E. Mayer, Paul R. Pintrich, James Raths and Merlin C. Wittrock (Eds.) A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing — A Revision of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives ; Addison Wesley Longman, Inc. 2001.