Why academics should consider digital social networks seriously and not as simply trivia for young people.

1. Digital social networks
and the Academy
Professor Frank Rennie
Lews Castle College
University of the Highlands and Islands

2. The Main Issues
• What is social networking?
• What is it used for?
• How can it be used in education?
• Pros and Cons
• Why is this important?
• How does it impact upon individuals and
communities?

3. What we tend to think
•Social media is…
• A waste of time
• Only for young people
• Complex and difficult
• Dangerous
• Uncontrolled
• A free way of maximising impact
• Prohibited by our university, school,
or organisation

4. What we actually know
• Most universities use social media actively
• They are mostly being used to disseminate views, etc.
• Mostly being used to network with other researchers
• Only used by a minority of researchers
• Confusion about best practice uses
• Confusion about which media is best for each task
• Big differences between individual and institutional uses
• They are becoming essential for funders and dissemination
• No real consensus on guidelines for use

5. Web 2.0
• Interactive rather than Broadcast
• Participative rather than a passive receptor
• Collaborative rather than a single author
– Wikis, Blogs, Video, Audio, Social Networks…..
• Attention rather than Information is premium
• Tests truth and its application
• Context in addition to Contents
• Personalised learning – multi-media etc.
http://www.freefoto.com/preview/01-17-2/Spiders-Web

6. Communities of Inquiry
• Social Presence
– identification within a community with trusted relationships
• Cognitive Presence
– constructing knowledge, discussing, confirming, reflecting
• Teaching Presence
– a consistent pedagogical approach to facilitation of the above to
enable worthwhile leaning experiences

7. Facebook: “This is the research I like”
Useful for:
• Creating communities of
practice and groups
• Generating discussion & debate
• Networking
• Mixing media (text, images,
video, etc.)
• Promoting projects & events
Limitations:
• Care needed to separate public
and private posts
• Issues of copyright and re-use
• Can trivialise information
• Ethical considerations

9. Twitter: “Here is what I am researching right now”
Useful for:
• Broadcasting ideas, opinions,
events
• Following ongoing projects and
events
• Networking with peers
• Sharing news
Limitations:
• Fast-moving (might miss tweets)
• Audiences follow themes (be
careful not mix messages)
• Mixing professional and private
• Short bites of information
(though can link with websites)
• Ethical considerations

11. Linkedin: “My research skills include…”
Useful for:
• Professional networking
• Connecting with non-academic
audiences
• Promoting your skills
• Following career opportunities
Limitations:
• Limited interactivity
• Not peer reviewed

13. Researchgate: “My recent research papers”
Useful for:
• Setting research profiles
• Linking with peers
• Jobs updates
• Research news and trends
• Easy to use
• Can disseminate articles
Limitations:
• Passive rather than proactive
• Needs maintenance
• Requires an institutional email
address
• Many abandoned profiles
• Not highly intuative

15. Wordpress: “What I think about my research subject”
Useful for:
• Personal diaries or research logs
• Work in progress
• News about areas of interest
• Building followers
• Following the work of key
individuals or organisations
Limitations:
• Needs to be focussed on a
specific topic
• Needs regular posts (small and
frequently)

17. Google Photos: “Look at my research pictures”
Useful for:
• Sharing images
• Searching for images
• Building album
• Promotion
• Time-lines
• Geo-location
Limitations:
• Image based
• Can get lost in the crowd
• Issues of copyright and sharing
• A mix of personal and
professional

19. YouTube: “Here is a video of my research”
Useful for:
• Sharing video images
• Demonstrating practice
• Connecting with a (very) large
audience
• Promoting a brand
• Encouraging interaction
• Multi-lingual messages
Limitations:
• A crowded market place (needs
to be worth watching)
• Needs time to produce

20. Hyper-interactivity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnQcCgS7aPQ

22. Recommendations
• Consider what benefit(s) social media could have for your research
• Consider what medium best suits your requirements
• Link to your website and/or blog
• Keep it simple
• Pay attention to regular maintenance
• Try not to mix personal and professional contacts
• Build specific social media tasks into research dissemination plans

23. Networked learning (amazon.co.uk)

24. Time for a study…?

25. View this presentation again at
www.slideshare.net/frankrennie
More info at
www.lews.uhi.ac.uk/frennie
Blog
https://uheye.wordpress.com/