Social media use in higher education - positive or negative?

As a higher education professional in business education and business technology, the initial thought of using social media as a resource in the classroom scared me a little, considering some of the potential risks involved. However, there are some interesting facts about social media use in higher education that may just change the way in which we teach in the future:

1. Colleges and universities are increasingly using social media as a vehicle to help potential students learn more about their institution and also to help make decisions about which program or school of study in which to enroll. According to Justin Marquis, Ph.D., "College admissions offices are creating groups on the social networking sites to make their prospective students feel more like they are part of the community long before they arrive on campus." (Source: http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2011/09/using-social-media-in-the-higher-education-classroom/)

2. Colleges and universities are also using social media to help organize on-campus activities as well as alumni connections and functions. 

3. Dr. Marquis further noted that social media likely has the most potential positive outcomes when applied to learning in the classroom. College professors are increasingly using social media as an added technology tool in the classroom for communication and networking as well as enhancing instruction in other content areas.

Based on some of these bits of information, I truly believe that we have yet to harness the true power of social media from an educational perspective. As professionals, we must be proficient in the social media world and develop ourselves professionally in a manner that allows us to stand on the forefront of what I believe will become a major factor in education in the future.

So, what can you do? 

1. Get out there and immerse yourself in social media! With that being said, don't just limit yourself to Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Start a blog, explore the world of Wikis, or even explore some of the lesser known social media sites (and there are hundreds of them out there to explore).

2. Take advantage of professional development opportunities that allow you to expand your understanding of social media and provide you with examples of how to effectively integrate social media into your classroom. The National Business Education Association (http://www.nbea.org) and its regional and state affiliate organizations offer some excellent opportunities for learning. Also, several of the individual social media outlets offer their own professional development and learning activities that are equally valuable.

3. Begin to identify ways in which you can integrate, bit by bit, various social media activities into your classroom. Social media can be used in virtually any course as a communication and networking source. Plus, you can also integrate content-specific activities (such as business communications or marketing) using social media outlets. Doing so not only shows that you are "cool", but also gives real world experience to students in what they can expect in the business world later in life.

Now, let's get out there and help our students become social media experts!