Connecting with Students via Facebook Groups - How Do YOU Do It?

Readers,

I enjoy connecting with students through social media (especially Facebook)! So, I tried a Facebook group for the FIRST time last spring and we definitely connected! The students asked questions about the course AND about life in general!

Connecting with Students
This was great for me, because I had a chance to connect with students and still complete my administrative duties each day. Most of my connections involved walking across campus and sending messages to the students via my iPhone.

Great for Time Management
Instead of sending e-mails via Exchange or Outlook to me, we actually decided to connect via our course Facebook group. This provided me with an instant notification AND I responded in a timely manner!

Intragroup Communication
Also, the students responded to one another's questions without me having to intervene. This was the most amazing part of the semester-long process, because they were able to become content generators.

I will definitely try this again!

Any questions?

Sincerely,

Millennial Professor

Educause Video - Pathways to Student Success

Readers,

I hope everyone is having a great week! I am excited whenever I discover articles and especially videos about academic success at the college level! I am excited about the academic success of undergraduate students! 

This is a neat video titled "Richard Calatta: Pathways to Student Success" presented by Richard Calatta, Deputy Director of Educational Technology, U.S. Department of Education (Presented by Educause). 


Richard Culatta: Pathways to Student Success from EDUCAUSE on Vimeo.


Sincerely, 

J. Edwards - Millennial Professor
http://www.facebook.com/millennialprofessor/ - millennialprofessor@gmail.com -  @DrSocialMediaTX 
Also - Check out millennialprofessormommy.com

Welcome Back to Texas! The AEJMC Conference Was Great!

Readers,

I just arrived home from the AEJMC conference in Oklahoma and it was an amazing and refreshing experience. One of my colleagues from the Communication Department (@SarahMaben) organized the panel and submitted the proposal. We were accepted and I packed the car and drove to OK! It was actually an easy drive.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ludophoto/2537811428/

We have lived in this area (DFW) for around six years and I have never driven from Texas to Oklahoma! In fact, it was my first time DRIVING out of state and actually walking from my car to a hotel in about six years! Go figure!

During the conference, I had time to network with colleagues and catch up on e-mail (which is an arduous task to say the least). I enjoyed the wonderful "conference" environment and I took a lot of notes for our 2013 Social Media Conference!

As a result of attending the conference, I plan to start a book proposal focused on Social Media and Higher Education Administration. We will see HOW long this process will take, but I am eager start!

Sincerely, 

J. Edwards - Millennial Professor

http://www.facebook.com/millennialprofessor/ - millennialprofessor@gmail.com -  @DrSocialMediaTX 

Also - Check out millennialprofessormommy.com

Wandering Wednesdays - Why Students Plagiarize (A Neat Webcast from TurnItIn.com)

Reader,

I strive to educate the students in my classes about the importance of avoiding plagiarism and the importance of attribution when writing scholarly papers. In my opinion, this is one of the most important aspects of higher education. 

View this podcast about plagiarism and higher education from TurnItIn.com, "Why Students Plagiarize".

What do you think? Neat software and neat approach!
Sincerely, 

J. Edwards - Millennial Professor
http://www.facebook.com/millennialprofessor/ - millennialprofessor@gmail.com -  @DrSocialMediaTX 

Also - Check out millennialprofessormommy.com

Motivation Mondays! Spring 2013 - Blog Schedule Reveal!

www.planetofsuccess.com/blog/ 

Readers,

Thanks for bearing with me! It is definitely tough being a mom and a professor/administrator! However, this process is extremely rewarding and I am very excited to awaken each morning, because I know that I have a chance to make a difference in the lives of others!

Here's the upcoming schedule:

I plan to post at least two posts per week, which may focus on one or more of the following!

Motivation Mondays! - Reflections from a Millennial Professor/Administrator

Wandering Wednesdays - YouTube Clips, Product Reviews, and Resources

Free-for-All Friday! - You never know what you might find! Usually these resources will highlight the best tweets of the tweet!

Disclaimer - I might not be able to post all of the time, but will try my best!

Sincerely, 

J. Edwards - Millennial Professor
http://www.facebook.com/millennialprofessor/ - millennialprofessor@gmail.com -  @DrSocialMediaTX 
Also - Check out millennialprofessormommy.com

Spending the Holiday Reflecting and Planning...

I am excited about having a small break! I always have a wealth of ideas after a semester ends and it is great to have a small amount of time to plan and reflect.

Next semester, I am teaching "Social Networking" and I am excited about writing a syllabus and planning their REAL assignment. We have an amazing. project at our university dedicated to providing students with ways to ENHANCE their degrees. REAL stands for real world experiences applied to learning and I have had almost 200 students complete the program! From undergraduate research and study away/abroad to internships and service learning, I stress the importance of this program to ALL of our undergraduate students.

Find out more information here - http://www.tarleton.edu/REAL/

Time for more goal setting and reflecting...

Christmas excitement!

Sincerely,

J. Edwards