using emerging technology to engage students
DESCRIPTION
Presentation forming part of a workshop at the Association of Learning Development in Higher Education CPD event on 14 January 2011TRANSCRIPT
studentdevpt.com
Using emerging technologiesto engage students
Stuart Johnson & Marta Ulanicka
University of Leicester
studentdevpt.com
Traditional advertising reaches a few more
StudentDevelopment
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There has been massive growth in social media
Jan 2009 Jan 2010 Nov 2010
68,557,534 121,210,792 132,665,694
5,979,052 24,813,434 26,385,917
Numbers represent unique visitors. Data from www.compete.com
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If Facebook were a country
0
200,000,000
400,000,000
600,000,000
800,000,000
1,000,000,000
1,200,000,000
1,400,000,000
Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population
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So we’re using social media…
StudentDevelopment
*NB. Facebook page not group
*
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…and they tell their friends about us
StudentDevelopment
“I think that the Facebook page is a great idea and I have since spread the word to mates and
got them to join”
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And the number of ‘Likes’ increases…30/06/2009
30/07/2009
30/08/2009
30/09/2009
30/10/2009
30/11/2009
30/12/2009
30/01/2010
02/03/2010
02/04/2010
02/05/2010
02/06/2010
02/07/2010
02/08/2010
02/09/2010
02/10/2010
02/11/2010
02/12/2010
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Total ‘Likes’
Unsubscribes
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…and so does the number using our services
StudentDevelopment
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But rather than them coming to us…
…they give us permission to go to them
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Our website traffic has gone up
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11
Page
vie
ws
studentdevpt.com *Facebook fan dashboard
But, meaningful content is vital
“Page admins who post meaningful content will retain fans, while admins who post spammy or low-quality material will lose fans and subscribers”*
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News and events feeds we automate
See http://studentdevpt.com/2009/10/09/trying-hard-to-connect
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53%
36%
4%7%
But most of what we say is proactive
(automated)
(proactive/responsive)
(proactive/responsive)
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And it’s having an impact here
21%
67%
12%
Have you ever gone to an event or done something as a direct result of information posted on our Facebook or Twitter accounts?
This happens a lot This never
happens
This sometimes happens
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And here…
A lot Quite a lot Not much Not at all0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Has your awareness of Student Development services improved since following us on Facebook or Twitter
Yes I knew a bit No
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They still like email!
• We have >4,000 signed up• We needed to subscribe to a mailing list manager• The reports are very useful
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Email tips
• Make it easy to subscribe• Allow public sharing if possible• Don’t email more than you say you will• Say one thing at a time• Learn from the reports• Make it easy to unsubscribe
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Tips to engage*
• Start a conversation• Quick, direct and simple• Attach, attach, attach!• Announce, remind, excite• It’s about time
Remember• It’s not a magic bullet• They can turn us off
* Courtesy of David Morgan, see http://goo.gl/qXkQ
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What we’ve learnt
• We're definitely reaching more students this way
• A base of RSS news and events feeds is a good start
• But you've got to invest in conversations
• Our helpdesk staff do a great job
• Distance learners like it too