Joan,
Great post! Social media is not going away so it is imperative that we educate students professionalism in the media.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Greetings,
It is important for students to learn netiquette and the role of social networking - both professionally and personally. Most recruiters now review social networking sites as a screening tool for candidates. Students have to recognize that they have a personal brand that impacts the way their relational network and opportunities develop. By learning quality netiquette, they have an opportunity to keep a quality reputation for their brand.
Also, certain industries have restrictions on what employees are allowed to post. (Traders, medical profession, educators, etc.) If students are interning or working, and post inappropriate content, they can lose opportunities or their job. Personally, I've had to fire board members and employees within different business/nonprofit positions when their social media postings were inappropriate.
So, as a faculty member, it's important to guide students in how-to leverage social networking in appropriate ways.
Thanks,
Rick Yngve
Richard,
You are so right. Now there are companies that will look for information on social media such as a credit bureau. The scarey thing is they look for and keep information on subjects for up to seven year.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
This is one way of connecting with students that most are familiar with and find no to be intimidating.
Hi Everyone,
I feel it is very important for students to develop good social networking habits as this method of communication will likely continue to grow and expand. Over the last 5-7 years, use of social media platforms have grown rapidly. Concepts and tools that were completely unknown 10 years ago are second nature to people as young as toddlers today.
With this shift, students need to be well versed in how to communicate and utilize new social tools. Students need to also understand the pros and cons of utilizing social networking so they can adjust the types of information they share.
Thanks, Shannon L. Baxa, MS, RHIA, PMP
Harry,
True, you have to able to model it!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Shannon,
This may be one of the most important networking tools we have for the future. We have to educate students on their professional voice in that environment.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Good social networking habits increase proper communication, builds community, and increase interactions with people world-wide.
Belinda,
You are right. They will continue to use them in their professional career.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
It is important for students to develop good social networking habits since students are using them daily.
Social networking offer a lot of opportunities for learning and interactivity.
Social networking sites (SNS) don't seem to be unhealthy for students as long as they're not victimizing SNS’s, overly.
SNS’s also can facilitate the students in their studies.
Students make use of social networking sites like an affiliation or communication to their alternative classmates. SNS’s will facilitate them relieve stress.
Social networking habits are good for studying and communicating in group activities, and get more informative information.
I don’t know if I’d call them good social networking habits, but more importantly skills. In today’s day in age, if you are not linked to some sort of social networking sight it is easy to feel a few steps behind or not quite in the loop. If someone wants something to be known, done or found it will most definitely be seen on networking sights like Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. In an economy like now where jobs can be scarce these networking tools are a great way to put yourself out there, market yourself, and locate hidden opportunities that you might otherwise never know about. Word of mouth has always been the back door to opportunity and now that word of mouth has expanded globally the number of back doors can be endless with the right networking skills.
Darcel,
Great points! I think we must educate students on the professional use of them so they can efficiently use them and not abuse them.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Christine,
Great point about hidden opportunities. We do have to teach our students to be authentic in the professional posts.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Good social networking habits can be beneficial in many areas. These can be through technology based or non technology based. We must all learn how to work in many ‘networks’ not only in classrooms, but also in the ‘real world.’
cynthia,
You have spurred a thought; could a student compare and contrast the different skills needed in both types of networking environments. I would think there are similarities . . .. Good post!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Great idea! And if a student did not have 'real world' experience, it could be from their assumptions of the future....
Thanks!
Cynthia
cynthia,
A truer statement has never been spoken! :) I don't want to see their assumptions of the future, too scarey!
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Hi
Students need to develop appropriate understanding of the opportunities available with social networking as well the issues related to downside of the open online communication. For students to be successful in business today they need to be savvy social networkers. Whether they are just using LinkedIn or maintain a company website, being comfortable and safe online is important.
Social networking also provides a tremendous amount of information. There are networks that are industry specific as well as job specific. Tapping into these helps students to find work and to keep up to date with industry news.
Jocelyn M. Dervis
Social media is second nature to digital natives. They tweet, post, share and good habits are essential. It is similar to good manners in public.
Jocelyn,
Great point! We as professionals talk about how we use social media to reach out for data and/for validation of our teaching. We need to show students how we use it professionally and tell them we also use it personally and model those situations.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
