Given at SIM University Faculty Learning Day (July 25 - 28, 2012) Online social media and interactive tools are often viewed to be at odds with the classroom experience. Rather than work against the draw of these gathering places, faculty can learn to utilise them appropriately within the context of a course. This presentation provides a tour of online communication tools and demonstrates how each can be customised to promote greater student engagement and interactivity within an academic setting. Among the tools to be discussed are Facebook and Twitter, Ustream and Spreecast (videocasting), Reddit (peer voting), Forums, Delicious (social bookmarking) and music tools.

1. Digital Communication Tools
Online social media and interactive tools are often viewed to be at
odds with the classroom experience. Rather than work against the
draw of these gathering places, faculty can learn to utilise them
appropriately within the context of a course. Join Professor John
Boyer and Katie Pritchard as they provide a tour of online
communication tools and demonstrate how each can be
customised to promote greater student engagement and
interactivity within an academic setting. Among the tools to be
discussed are Facebook and Twitter, Ustream and Spreecast
(videocasting), Reddit (peer voting), Forums, Delicious (social
bookmarking) and music tools.

2. Digital Communication Tools
Twitter hashtag: #simfld
John Boyer (joboyer@vt.edu) Katie Pritchard (kpritcha@vt.edu)
Dept. of Geography Dept. of Geography
Virginia Tech, United States Virginia Tech, United States
Twitter: @plaidavenger Twitter: @katiepritchard

3. How we do it
(and the technologies that help)

4. How we do it
(and the technologies that help)
-Diversity of student assessment options that
intergrat online technologies

5. How we do it
(and the technologies that help)
-Diversity of student assessment options that
intergrat online technologies
-Increased teacher to student interaction that
incorporate online platforms

6. How we do it
(and the technologies that help)
-Diversity of student assessment options that
intergrat online technologies
-Increased teacher to student interaction that
incorporate online platforms
-Increased student to student interaction that
utilize existing social networks

7. How we do it
(and the technologies that help)
-Diversity of student assessment options that
intergrat online technologies
-Increased teacher to student interaction that
incorporate online platforms
-Increased student to student interaction that
utilize existing social networks
....and in doing these things, we have found that
a GROUP SYNERGY evolves organically

8. Ways to stay connected...
-New: Subscribe to Professor Boyer on
Facebook - facebook.com/joboyer
-Like the Plaid Avenger on
Facebook - facebook.com/plaidavenger
-Follow the Plaid Avenger on Twitter -
twitter.com/plaidavenger
-Join Turntable.fm and play tunes in The
International Spin room -
turntable.fm/the_international_spin
-Use the class Twitter hashtag #wrvt to interact
with fellow students, ask questions, and get info

9. Increased interactions
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling

11. Facebook groups
Suggest students join class group
Place to post notices and students can
“meet” each other digitally
Students can find study partners

14. Students made own
Uni SIM group
(830 people)
https://
www.facebook.com/
groups/unisim/

15. Students made own
Uni SIM group
(830 people)
https://
www.facebook.com/
groups/unisim/

16. Increased interactions
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling
Twitter - Class hashtag

17. http://tweetchat.com/
room/wrvt

18. http://tweetchat.com/
room/wrvt

22. #HBRchat

23. #HBRchat

28. Increased interactions
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling
Twitter - Class hashtag
Poll Everywhere - In class on the spot polling

30. Increased interactions
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling
Twitter - Class hashtag
Poll Everywhere - In class on the spot polling
Ustream - Online office hours

31. Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/channel/prof.-boyer's-office-hours

32. spreecast

33. Google Hangouts

34. Blackboard chat tool

35. Increased interactions
Professor Facebook/Twitter - class notices, quick
polling
Twitter - Class hashtag
Poll Everywhere - In class on the spot polling
Ustream - Online office hours
Video podcasts - current events, other topics

36. Blogs/Podcasts
-continued
dialogue
-expanded, tag-
able, content
http://
www.plaidavenger.
com/plaidcasts/all/

37. Other tools
Reddit
social news website where the registered users submit
content, in the form of either a link or a text "self" post.
Subreddits
http://www.reddit.com/r/highereducation
http://www.reddit.com/r/business
http://www.reddit.com/r/engineering
http://www.reddit.com/r/literature

38. http://www.reddit.com/r/finance

39. http://www.reddit.com/r/finance

40. http://www.reddit.com/r/engineering

41. http://www.reddit.com/r/engineering

42. Blogs
Tumblr
Blogger
WordPress

43. www.tumblr.com

44. www.tumblr.com

45. www.blogger.com
associated with Google

46. www.blogger.com
associated with Google

47. www.wordpress.com

48. www.wordpress.com

50. Technologies in the classroom are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!

51. Technologies in the classroom are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Students don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!

52. Technologies in the classroom are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Students don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!
You don’t have to do it
alone:
HARNESS STUDENT
KNOWLEDGE and
SKILLS!

53. Technologies in the classroom are not just gimmicks:
HARNESS THE TOOLS!
Students don’t have to be
passive:
HARNESS THEIR
ENERGY!
You don’t have to do it
alone:
HARNESS STUDENT
KNOWLEDGE and
SKILLS!
A strong community is a potent force:
HARNESS THE POTENTIAL!