online networks
In preparation for the focus groups today I have been assessing the existing online services and networks for the students and alumni of the MA Media Enterprise course.
First of all, there is Moodle, the electronic learning resource. On this site students can find out all sorts of information about their course as tutors post lecture notes and presentations to supplement learning. This site is useful as a database of knowledge and module information but does not provide opportunities for networking.
Students and alumni of the course can also make use of the Yahoo Group set up for them. This gives them an easy way to communicate with the whole group with just one click. It’s great for asking questions about assignments as the issue at hand may be one that several people were concerned about; and asking everyone, rather than just asking the tutor, promotes discussion and a community feel. It is also a good way to let all the students know at once of any upcoming events or opportunities.
So we are provided with easy communication methods and a learning database, but it would seem that there is no online location to congregate, to share personal as well as professional information. Yes, many of us have Facebook or MySpace profiles, and temporary “groups” have been set up on here, but these sites are not for focusing on our professional development or the progression of the course.
Does this mean there is a gap in provision here? Is a student and alumni network something we need? This shall be discussed in the focus groups and I will let you know the outcomes in due course…
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16pm
Worth mentioning Twitter as well since we’re name-checking social media tools. I’m not sure there is a gap since used appropriately, the spaces you mention can be about professional development, particualrly in the creative industries where the personal/professional crossover so much. My facebook friends list contains everyone from work colleagues to professional contacts to old schoolfriends - work/personal gets intertwined.
For me, at the moment, twitter is the key that locks together my social media profiles. I use it to tell people what I’m doing right now, be it gardening or reporting from a conference, it automatically updates my facebook profile and I can push out links to new blog postings.
Dave