Social media challenges for educators

This past week I was on a panel on social media at the PrepMe College Readiness Institute. The audience was educators and counselors at the high school level and also on the panel were Linda Tuncay Zayer from Loyola and David Koehler from UIC. The Chicago Public School system has banned educators from communicating with students in any other forum than the CPS email. I assume the CPS wants to keep a handle on communication and protect everyone involved. Here is the problem: The younger generations don't like email, preferring social media and texting for communication. We have trouble at NIU getting students to read email even when money is involved, like scholarships.

I suggested that the CPS start its own social network, perhaps on Ning, to engage students and share information. We use social networking extensively in our Interactive Marketing program. We have a special group under my page to share job information and other updates and do the same in Linkedin. We are also going to be starting a Facebook fan page for the IM program because the program has become so big that we need a little bit more formal way to communicate. I don't know how I would let students know about jobs when they are five years out without Facebook. I have been a member since 2005 and it is a great way to stay in touch.

We also talked about the negatives of social media, including fostering a short attention span and poor communication skills. We wonder what the next generation will be like? Will they be able to or even need to write a business memo. Any comments?

'06 IM grad Courtney Danner still using program skills for interactive campaigns

Courtney Danner, an'06 IM grad writes, "After gradation I took a position as a client manager/SEO specialist at a very small Web Design & Internet Marketing agency. The company was small - only 4 people, so there was not much training. Thanks to the NIU Interactive Marketing program I was able to hit the ground running with ease. Some of my everyday tasks involved editing basic html in order to make SEO changes, executing email marketing campaigns, and managing my client's PPC campaigns - all skills that I learned from the IM program.

After 3 years of experience it wasn't difficult to land my current position at a larger Interactive agency. At a larger agency I am now less hands on, but having a strong background helps me work with my team and communicate with my clients more effectively. I am also now a go-to person for SEO, SEM and social media questions. I am now executing larger integrated campaigns which involve media buying, social media, SEM and SEO, I am enjoying my new learning adventures and the principles from IM are still helping me along the way."