LeWando,
Great response! If you want students to learn more about their online brand, you can have them go beyond conducting a Google search on themselves. You may surprise them and ask them to calculate their online personal brand score. After they look at you perplexed, introduce them to these tools (After you familiarize yourself of course)
1. Online ID Calculator - http://www.onlineidcalculator.com/index.php
2. My Web Career - http://www.mywebcareer.com/
For a comprehensive list of Online Tools for Jobsearch and Professional Development, you may want to bookmark this page: http://careertipster.com/resources/improve-your-job-search-with-these-online-resources/
Robert Starks Jr.
I would tell them "have someone to google your name or mapquest your address". The results would shift their mindset. When an individual is aware of where they are in the scheme of things, the reality of those things change for an individual. Once social media ability to:
1. Expand relationships, personally and
professionally
2. Advance knowledge
3. Share experiences and interest
The importance of social media is heighten.
It is definitely not a fad. It has become a very significant and tangible means of communicating information, inspiring people to take action, and it is a fast and convenient way for people to stay in touch and in a community. People find it very entertaining.
The proof is in the quantifiable research data that shows how it has grown in popularity and impact. While the players and the methods in the technology will change over time, I don't expect it will be going away any time soon.
Katya,
Insightful comments - thank you for sharing.
Robert Starks Jr.
Briefly, I believe that using Social Media is a choice on personal and massive communications. It can be very complex for some, and even unnecessary (especially if they prefer to interact in a limited social space); whereas, for others using Social Media tools may be as natural as breathing. This has a correlation with the ability to adapt and incorporate change into our lives, just as when the personal computers came into play. At first it was something complicated and only certain people could have access to, whereas now, I think it is as useful as a cellular phone... You want to carry them with you at all times!
Katya Navarro
Stacey,
What a wonderful response! You nailed it when you said these tools can help individuals and businesses alike. I think you would appreciate this blog entry I put in the Lounge for those who plan on using the social learning network platform to continue learning, sharing, and connecting - take a look and leave a comment: http://lwire.us/?l=XJ5V. Stacey - I have enjoyed our interactions and your enthusiasm in this course. Your comments are helping all of us learn and engage. Make sure you add me to your PLN once you complete the course so we can continue learning from each other.
Thank you!
Robert Starks Jr.
I would tell them that it is not true and far from just a fad. I think that some people are also under the impression that just "teenagers" use facebook etc.... I would also discuss all of the different social media tools out there and how usingthem would benefits individuals and businesses alike. Coming into this class I knew very little about social media and now I feel I have a much better grasp on it. It is truly amazing how many platforms and tools that are out there that I am sure no one knows about, and how they can benefit you.
