The document outlines a student-led initiative at the University of Nottingham aimed at integrating social media into academic practices for PhD students and early career researchers. It presents a series of interactive training sessions designed to enhance skills in social media usage, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and improving employability. Key outcomes include increased awareness of social media's academic potential while also highlighting concerns about its time demands and the need for integration into formal training programs.

1. Using Social Media in Academic Practice: A Student-led Training Initiative Andy Coverdale & LeRoy Hill University of Nottingham

2. Overview xxx Sessions in social and participative media PhD students and Early Career Researchers Supported and hosted by the Jubilee Graduate Centre Rationale xxx The effective use of social and participative media is increasingly becoming a key requirement in 21st Century academic practice and professional development

3. Key Drivers ‘ Gap’ in formal PhD training provision Promotion of student-led initiatives & professional development Participation in peer-supported activities Teaching opportunity

4. Graduate Centres xxx 5 Graduate Centres (3 Faculty-based / 2 campus-based) xxx Core Objectives Faculty-specific training Cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration Social and careers events, and work placement programmes xxx Researcher-led Events Develop researchers’ own skills Support and develop peers Enhance employability potential

5. RCUK Joint Statement Xxx Training Requirements for Research Students Xxx Research Management : identifying appropriate resources and acquiring data effectively Personal Effectiveness : demonstrating creativity, innovation and initiative, able to identify own training needs, motivation, use of sources of support Communication Skills : articulation of ideas and arguments to wide ranging audience, supporting the learning of others Networking and Team Working : developing co-operative networks and relationships Career Management : taking ownership of career and improving employability, awareness of transferable nature of research skills

7. The Sessions: Overview xxx Three lunchtime sessions (2 hours each) Limited to 20 people per session Multi-disciplinary Pre-survey and Twitter feed - attendees’ interests, experiences and expectations Interactive - discussion activities Xxx Online Resource Tools: annotated links to key social media Resources: annotated links to guides, tutorials and best practice examples

8. The Sessions: Key Aims xxx Finding common ground between Web 2.0 ‘core values’ and academic practice Addressing wider concepts - digital identity, Open Access / Education models, collaborative practices etc. Aligning with social learning concepts and models - communities of practice, network theories etc.

10. The Sessions: Programme Xxx Key Concepts Key Processes / Technologies Key Tools / Platforms Xxx Session One : Introduction to social media, underlying concepts, values and technologies Session Two : Blogging, Twitter, tagging and social bookmarking, resource sharing Session Three : Social networking and collaboration, aggregation and syndication, Personal Learning Environments

11. Key Outcomes xxx Observations Limited awareness and use of social media for academic purposes Strong respect of / reliance on traditional forms of research practice, discourse and dissemination Cultural differences in social media adoption across disciplines xxx Student Feedback Value opportunities for sharing good practices and experiences Concerns over time-intensiveness of using social media in studies

12. Some Feedback Comments "I can't believe that I have been in the dark for so long, its almost like discovering word processing..I've been struggling with the PhD by myself for so long, with tutors who just haven't got the time or inclination to discuss my ideas. I have been trying to achieve something on my own that is essentially collaborative in nature. All the pieces now begin to fit together." "A good overview of the content, nature, function and uses of social media It will make me think about my online presence and how I would develop it I realise that this can become part of my repertoire This stimulates me to put my work through the channels of social media Will start building a webpage" it could be longer! Not that interactive

13. Key Training / Policy Issues xxx Training Issues Disciplinarity - engaging with multi-disciplinary audiences Addressing inequalities in skills, competencies and experiences xxx Policy Issues Integration of student initiatives into formal graduate training provision Inspiring further student-led initiatives

14. Current and Future Development Xxx Repeat sessions at Jubilee Graduate Centre One-day session at the Engineering Graduate Centre Participation in JISC Digital Literacies Materials Pilot programme Towards integrated programme - open workshops, seminars, online community development etc. Integration into formal PGR training programme? Sustainable models for shared practice

15. Summary Xxx Relate to traditional academic practices - publishing, conferencing etc. Identify challenging and augmenting properties of social media adoption Adopt holistic perspectives of social media Focus on academic and professional community / network development Recognise the need for coping strategies Promote critical and reflective approaches

16. Thank You! Questions, Comments, Suggestions? LeRoy Hill Andy Coverdale email: ttxlh12@nottingham.ac.uk email: ttxac20@nottingham.ac.uk twitter: @leroyh twitter: @andycoverdale