2011 global sm research proposal
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Transcript of 2011 global sm research proposal
Cultural and Geographic Variations in Social Media use by higher education instructors with
their studentsAn Open Research Proposal
Terry Eberhart
November 17th, 2011
Social Media
• Exponential Growth Continues• Penetration into Higher Education has become widespread
– At least in developed countries• Technology, Platforms, and Applications evolve and change rapidly• Policies range from virtually non-existent to highly regulated, from
very open to highly restrictive.• Legal Regulations and Issues arise from numerous sources with
different implications. The “Rules” are not well established and stable.
• Intercultural interactions are widespread and growing.• Different cultures have different expectations on student-faculty
interactions.
Social MediaUse in Education
• Educator Perspectives often differ significantly– Often with great personal energy and emotion behind them.
– Discussions between educators on platforms such as LinkedIn have been some of the most expansive and strongly expressive among all types of discussions.
Social MediaUse in Education
• Legal Implications – Differ by geography– Differ by school types– Differ by age groups they serve
– New ones arise on a frequent basis• (and sometimes go away as well)
Social MediaUse in Education
• Recent Examples:– Missouri State in U.S.• Bans public K-12 teachers from being “Friends” on
facebook in August 2011• Law is repealed 2 months later
– At some US For-Profit Colleges:• Being a “Friend” on facebook with a student is grounds
for termination of employment. – Just Today: Georgia Tech• Removes all class wikis from the web citing privacy
concerns
Social MediaUse in Education
• Cultures vary in interactions– In some western cultures, a “professional” distance is
expected– In some eastern cultures, a mentor or guide role can set
up an expectation of a closer relationship. – As an educator for India relayed: Rejecting a friend request
on facebook from a student would likely be seen as a rejection of the student as a person – to the student and to others.
• What happens when a student and a teacher from different cultures interact?
Social MediaUse in Education
• Seems like a need exist.
• Seems like an opportunity.
• Why don’t we collaborate….• Why don’t we investigate…..• Why don’t we work together….• And share the learnings.
Social MediaUse in Education
• Looking for a few (or many) individuals…. across the globe, cultures, and environments.
– To work on an open research project in this area.– “Social Media use between Educators and Students”
• “Initial thoughts are in Higher Education”• I could be swayed to expand if there was interest (and
volunteers.)
Social MediaUse in Education
• The methods are up for choice• Surveys• Observations• Blogs• Forums• Many options
• This may be a “Living” project given the dynamic nature we face.
Social MediaUse in Education
• When?– Would like to kick off actual activities in January– Need to collect interested parties and methodology in the
meantime
• How do I make my interest known?Contact:– Terry Eberhart– Email: Digin4ed @ Gmail.com– Twitter @Digin4ed