We saved this one for last. Not necessarily because it's the best but because it was the most confusing.
Research conducted by Social Media Avengers Group shows that Facebook is the most widely used social media communication tool of choice for students at (COSTAATT). The screenshot below shows a question posted to students concerning which social media they use and how often. Facebook was the number one choice and for COSTAATT the one service they should utilize.
As you may know by now (from hopefully reading our blogs) COSTAATT does indeed have Facebook pages: Over 20 page.
However, at the time of the group’s research there were no findings to show that the college maintains a Facebook page. No clear insight into when an official page will be incorporated into the college’s communication mandate was shared with us.
While those in charge try to figure things out, the students and lectures of COSTAATT have created their own Facebook pages. All of them bear the college’s logo. In one or two instances lecturers create pages for their classes. The pages used by lecturers are usually closed groups and create a more interactive environment than e-classroom. The picture on the left shows a group our lecturer created for our class. He uploaded all class material on the group and we even had online classes through it. When he was correcting our papers he gave us feedback as he corrected them (anonymously though because that would have been rel embarrassment) which some of us thought was pretty cool.
There are also Facebook pages per faculty and per school. The large varieties of Facebook pages by students do help students stay in contact with each other within their field of study. In-so-much as this is helpful it also have a down side.
The general college information shared in relation to students and the college can be (and is done) in most cases by word of mouth.
The inconsistency and lack of clarity of information shared from student to student in some instances can delay, and hamper students.
Although there is no easy fix when it comes to how communication is done by any college, we believe that having an organized system in place helps to keep the dissemination of all information to members of the college consistent and accurate.
An official COSTAATT Facebook page managed by the college’s communication department and distinguishable from other Facebook pages bearing the college’s logo will (we are sure) assist greatly in how information is shared from the college to all students. Also they need to advertise this Facebook page and not keep it hidden like what they do with Twitter. That's the only way people will know!!
As the social media landscape evolves, and expands more options are created almost daily and/weekly to keep users online and involved. Technology has also played an important role in the amount of time spent online.
Hand held devices cellular phones and tablets are constantly being up-dated to mimic the computer. In many instances there is no need for a computer to send e-mail, write and or edit a word document, and or conduct any form of research. These devices also carry many applications that make communication through the social media spectrum easy and accessible to any and everyone who owns and uses cellular phones, and tablets.
With the easy access to social media, COSTAATT needs to step up their game and be more vigilant in this aspect.
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