The Student Affairs Blog

Social Networks for Student Engagement? 140 Characters or Less

I have been engaged with some interim assignments (it's what we do, right?) and ignoring the growth of social media and its potential influence in student affairs. Much thanks to Tania at The Student Leader Blog, for introducing many new tools in her posts.  Microblogging is my favorite of the social media applications. Facebook and MySpace have long provided microblogging with their status updates, but Plurk and Twitter have capitalized upon this theme. 

Plurk offers a colorful horizontal time line of communication and is populated by a variety of individuals, including what seems to be an abundance of K-12 educators and knitters.  The competition to engage in the site and increase your Plurk Karma is the a driving force behind much of the chatter. I made some interesting connections and found the fun Plurk graphics quite appealing.

You are much more likely to find me on Twitter where I have connected with a variety of higher ed media and instruction professionals.  With an estimated 2.1 million users, Twitter conversations are active and of the moment.  The recent California earthquake was reported within seconds on Twitter in contrast to the almost 9 minute lag time before hitting traditional news media. 

Social networking will link you to ideas and professionals beyond your campus, but will it engage your students?  Well...who knows?  Karlyn Morissette addressed the futility of pushing technology that is not student driven in her post Twitter: The next Second Life Syndrome?. 

Five or ten years from now, there will be something new in social media to help us connect.  With that in mind, I think we have an obligation to at least introduce our students to the social media tools that we have today.  Making connections. Building community. 

What are your favorite social networks?

Sexual Assault/Dating Programs

We recently had an incident on a student trip (our first!!) and now I have to provide training/workshop on dating/sexual assault.  Has anyone done a really successful program and who did you involve in the program?  I'd appreciate any ideas at all. :)

Introducing... The Topic of the Month!

We've had a lot of conversations with student affairs professionals at colleges ranging from the gargantuan to the teeny, and there is always lots to learn from what people have to say. To preserve and encourage these discussions, we've decided to come up with a topic of the month, every month, and start talkin.

So without further ado, here's this month's topic: (post your answer in a comment section below)

"How many hours per week do you work during the summer months? What is the primary focus of the work?"

MBTI: Type in Student Development

As I prepare for my student leader retreat next month, I appreciate utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) for program development.  As a Type practitioner, I have long used the MBTI to facilitate the transition to college in my first-year seminar.  I reintroduce Type in my leadership courses for comprehension of differences and strengths development.

Understanding new methods of instruction in the college or university can be challenging for any new student and is especially so for my students from small, rural high schools.  Type assessment in the first-year seminar helps students understand their preferences for learning and methods that will enhance individual learning.  Reviewing the principles of Type for my student leaders promotes understanding of diversity and differing work styles.  These skills become important as they engage in event planning and classroom activities for different learners.

Breanne Potter describes one of my favorite MBTI activities, the Living Type Table (LTT).  The LTT is a great practical exercise that gets students on their feet while demonstrating that learning and work style differences are real.  The activity shows that Type is systematic by sorting participants based on responses to Type specific questions.  For example:

When learning something new, do you like to:  Talk out your thoughts?  -OR-  Keep your thoughts inside?

When learning something new, do your prefer:  Solid facts? -OR- Intriguing Concepts?

Building the grid and moving into the 16 areas of the LTT is a fun activity that helps students define personal preferences in work and learning styles.  Check with your Human Resources office to partner with a trained MBTI facilitator on your campus or seek a referral from the Association for Psychological Type.