1. The document discusses how social media can be used to engage with conferences and digital badges. It notes that 73% of online adults use social networking and the growth in faculty using social media in teaching. 2. The author outlines how social media provides quick access to tools and breaks down virtual walls by bringing the outside in and taking discussions outside of class. 3. Advice is given on setting goals for using social media before, during, and after a conference to develop your online presence, build your network, and continue conversations after sessions.

1. Why is social so special?
Conference Engagement Though Social Media
and Digital Badges
Melissa A. Venable, PhD
OnlineColleges.net
#2014TCC
Pre-Conference Session
3/25/2014

2. • “As of September 2013, 73% of online adults use
social networking sites.” – Pew Research
• As of March 2014, Facebook has 1.23 billion
users, LinkedIn: 277 million, YouTube: 1 billion,
Evernote: 65 million. – Digital Marketing
Ramblings
• The number of faculty members using social
media in teaching has grown from 34% in 2012 to
41% in 2013 – mostly via blogs and wikis. –
Pearson

3. Social for e-Learning and Teaching
• Quick access
• Tools, tools, and more tools
• Breakdown the virtual walls
– Bringing the outside in –
leaders in the field, current
events
– Taking the inside out –
assignments that share
beyond class participants

4. Social for Conference Participation
• Develop Your Online Presence,
Professional Identity, Digital
Footprint
• Build your network
• Stay focused on event schedule
• Make informal contributions to
discussions
• Keep the conversations going
after sessions
• Recognize presenters and
participants

5. Set a few goals …
1. What do you want to accomplish?
1. Which accounts do you want to use?
1. Create a plan for Before, During, and
After – the event . . .

6. Before
Connect with other attendees
Touch base with presenters
Prepare your profiles (in and out of TCC site)
Follow the event’s social accounts
During
Watch and listen
Share –use the hashtag! #2014TCC
Find a balance
After
Follow-up with presenters and attendees
Move from connection to conversation
Keep sharing!

7. Conference + Social =
Open and Global Sharing
• Good opportunity to try
social for the first time –
start slow
• For the experienced, good
time to try something new
– stretch a bit
• Internal network 
external network

8. Resources and References
• The Beginner's Guide to the
Hashtaghttp://mashable.com/2013/10/08/what-is-hashtag/
• Encouraging a Conference Backchannel on Twitter
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/encouraging-a-conference-
backchannel-on-twitter/30612
• Twitter for Professional Use http://etcjournal.com/2011/10/10/twitter-
for-professional-use-%E2%80%93-part-1-getting-started/
• 32 Creative Types of Blog Posts You Can Write About
http://www.twelveskip.com/guide/blogging/229/22-creative-types-of-
blog-posts-you-can-write-about
• Social Networking Fact Sheet (Pew Research)
http://www.pewinternet.org/fact-sheets/social-networking-fact-sheet/
• How Many People Use … ? (Digital Marketing Ramblings)
http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/resource-how-many-people-
use-the-top-social-media/#.UzA6iccwafY
• Social Media for Teaching and Learning (Pearson)
http://www.pearsonlearningsolutions.com/higher-education/social-
media-survey.php

9. Questions?
@Melissa_Venable
Google.com/+MelissaAVenable
LinkedIn.com/melissavenable
Pinterest.com/melissavenable
Facebook.com/melissa.a.venable.phd
melissa.a.venable@gmail.com
http://www.onlinecolleges.net/inside-online-learning/
Enjoy the conference!
#2014TCC

10. Image credit
• Title page: mkhmarketing, Flickr, CC:BY
• Slide 3: macloo, Flickr, CC:BY-NC-ND
• Slide 4: melenita2012, Flickr, CC:BY
• Slide 7: freestockimages, Flickr, CC:BY