Colorado State University, encourage campus influencers to capture experiences ranging from move-in day to game day to off-campus road trips (Kay 2019; McKenzie 2019). These social media posts offer a front row seat into the lives of students at their respective institutions; they serve as a virtual tour without the scripted appeals from campus faculty, staff, and administrators. Some institutions, such as George Mason University and Temple University extend control of the campus social media platforms to students for a day (Stroller 2016; McKenzie 2019). The choice to entrust this responsibility to students demonstrates the bond between the institution and its students. Furthermore, it can serve as an incentive for students to envelop themselves with school spirit in hopes of also becoming a social media ambassador.
Colleges and universities are helping students break into the lucrative business of social media. Some are offering courses centered on becoming an influencer to help students sharpen not only the focus on their hand-held cameras, but also their strategies. University of Southern California offers a course on “influencer relations,” in conjunction with the institution’s school of communications and an on-campus club (Rosenblatt 2020). For those college students interested in earning more than just a few credits on subjects related to social networking, some places of study are offering degree programs in this burgeoning field. Several institutions are combining a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a concentration in social media. At the graduate level, some universities are offering master’s degrees in social media (Somers 2016). Many educators and administrators recognize the role that social networking plays in the lives of most. Designing collegiate courses and programs that provide students with a portal into the digital world is a growing trend.
Social media plays a pervasive role in the lives of those pursuing higher education. It serves as a constant virtual companion for many with wide-ranging implications that can make the difference between succeeding and being set back as an undergrad or graduate student.
References
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Grades: Smiling Face Emoji
Introduction
Earning good grades is often high on the list of goals for students pursuing a post-secondary education. After all, it is only once a student has stacked up the required course credits that they can earn a degree, and walk off the graduation stage toward new possibilities. To help foster academic success, many students and faculty are turning to social media. Thanks to its widespread use among college-aged adults, compatibility with mobile devices, and no-cost model, many consider it to be a logical vehicle to enhance learning.
Social Media and Student Engagement
It is likely that most students can recall, at one point in time, sitting in a class and hearing only the voice of the instructor or perhaps the proverbial crickets when a question was posed to those in the room. To combat this, social media is being used to promote engagement in courses. There is a myriad of reasons why platforms are being used to connect students to course content and one another. Public university students who used Facebook for class-related discussions expressed an appreciation of sharing content in a virtual space because it is familiar, visually appealing, and easy to use (Hurt et al. 2012).
Embedding social media in courses can aid in the creation of community. Just as students are exploring new subject matter in their classes, they are meeting new people on campus. For some, it can take time to feel comfortable asking questions and sharing insights with those inside the classroom walls. Studies show that when undergraduates use social media to connect, they begin to relate to their educational peers. Sheeran and Cummings (2018) found that “students with either an official or unofficial Facebook group in at least one of their courses did have an increased sense of belonging.” Undergraduates enrolled in an introductory-level course reported experiencing closer connections with classmates and feeling
