DailyPost 323
SOCIAL MEDIA & ACADEMICS
From being declared the Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ in 2006, social media today dominates the way digital technology is used around the world. Academics is no exception. Wikipedia is redefining everyday knowledge. The technological lag between educators & available cutting edge mediums have long been there; films & radio are conspicuous examples. In the world of social media churning, plunge is imminent. There is no how & why.
Social Media for Academics by Mike Carrigan can be an effective guide. He gives a clear cut, incisive guide to the confused contemporary academic as how to engage fruitfully with the social media. Blending one’s own personal style while projecting an appropriate social media academic identity is a must.
Literally everything academic can be performed on the social media. The range is mind boggling; collaboration, presentation, networking, researching, tracking, portfolio presentation, audiovisual archiving, workflow efficiency, writing, event production, publishing, video creation, data visualisation & teaching. Take what you need, use the platform, instantaneous feedback & validation are the value adds. Cowrite work Google Drive or use audience pooling tools like Kahoot, you will never be starved of choice.
We are in a new informational environment. Biggest reason to get onboard with the social media is the changing world of information& education. Ignoring social media is like ignoring email of 1994. Brick & mortar universities might just become a relic of the past. If the university is not using SnapChat, then it’s losing a big opportunity to relate to students. Examples are umpteen. The exponential age might just throw up the ultimate Disruptive Innovation in academics.
It’s time to take stock of the situation, change gears & go full throttle. Only world class will survive in the academic version of Darwinism.
ACADEMICS MISSING OUT ON EFFECTIVE SOCIAL MEDIA, CAN BE AN EXISTENTIAL CHALLENGE.
Sanjay Sahay