Bringing Social Media to the Classroom - No Matter what Your Major is.

Social Media and Social Innovation becoming part of a Curriculum on Prezi

Bringing social media sites and tools to the classroom, I feel, is extremely important. Social media strategies are used by people, companies, non-profits, campuses ,anything! Anyone and everyone can use this wonderful tool. It is necessary to understand what 'social media' actually is, but most importantly - how to use it. It is like a new gadget - it seems confusing at first, and you get annoyed with it at times, but at the end of the day, you do not know how you survived without it.

One thing I mentioned in the Prezi that I want to bring attention to, is the idea of starting a 'Social Innovation' major. That does not seem too far off; it is like the cousin to the Communications major. The possibilities are endless - the class can teach the philosophy of Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, who helps children in third world countries receive shoes, and he is a business man making a profit. Gone are the days where non-profit meant you had to choose between food or paying your rent.

Social media is not going anywhere, anytime soon, and the more people who are educated on this matter, the greater it can become.

Social Media - Let's Get Connected

Social Media: Web-based technology makes communication between people fast and efficient. It is a great new tool, and one that everyone needs to get to know.
It is unlike an iPod, or new lap top, where money is needed to enjoy such an object. People can connect with their friends, family, favorite hobbies and passions, all for the low price of free. However, it is often misconstrued as simply telling the world you ate cereal for dinner. The endless connections to be had with the world in, up to now, record timing, are endless.

15 years ago, prior to the Facebook, blogging and Twitter era we know today, if someone's hobby was knitting, and they knit a knew piece of clothing every week, they would purchase a knitting book, and possibly show their creations to their friends and familiy. Now, you can follow other people's interesting knitting techniques, create your own blog and post photos to share with other knitting-enthusiasts, and 'like' knitting on Facebook. Once you find people who enjoy your passion (even if they are on the other side of the world), you have made a connection with someone who shares your love and passion. Social media is a tool allowing people to make connections with other people, no matter where they live.

People use social media to obtain information, education, news and anything else that interests them. Having a web presence is vital to stay in the 'know', and to bring attention and awareness for a company or a non-profit organization.

For example,



This website is a comprehension for non-profit news and information. What is interesting about this specific group is that they have a choice between social media and ordering a magazine.



But what is great about this organization is that they have a wonderful web presence, an option to receive a hard-copy of their news, and a way for their supports to follow them utilizing social media outlets.



The information for The Nonprofit Quarterly is available for their followers anytime of the day, with current information provided faster than their magazine can relay.

Through these social media outlets, people who connect with something you enjoy can see what you’re doing, what you’ve been up to , become more attached to your cause, as well as feel a great sense of unity and closeness with the your organization and the people who follow the same interests.

A Delicious Cup of Positivity

www.cupofpositivity.wordpress.com

My positivity blog is up and running! You can also follow it on twitter at 'cupofpositivity'

Enjoy, and let me know what you think! And of course, I hope you find a connection with it!

Ahh Real Monsters! For a Great Cause

Aidan, a 5 year old boy, is drawing pictures of monsters and selling them in order to help for his chemo. He was diagnosed before he was born, and his family has been in medical constraints ever since. Therefore, he draws the cutest pictures of monsters in order to help pay for his medical expenses - mostly the chemotherapy. Another moving and very heartfelt way of using Social Media! Let's all help Aidan get better.

Follow him:

Blog - http://aidforaidan.wordpress.com/
Etsy - http://www.etsy.com/shop/aidansmonsters
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Aid-for-Aidan/168065143207856?v=wall

Resume!

Civic Engagement

Marissa, the author and creator of the blog Food in Jars, talked to our class, along with another Food Writering class, to discuss the importance of writing online - focusing on blogs. She made some very interesting points about engaging with people online, and how someone can form their own reputation online, focusing on their favorite hobby or past time.

A lot of what Marissa was talking about was relevant to the project Chris and I are working on - the restaurant Avril. Christian, the owner of Avril, needs a little.. okay a lot.. of help with his social media. Starting with a Facebook. Although it is shocking as to how social media - something so simple such as creating a fan page for your company on Facebook as well as a Twitter account can improve the company, it must be done.



As Clara Shih explains in her book, The Facebook Era, "However, most people wouldn't feel entirely comfortable calling the list of contacts in their phone book. Fortunately, as we talked about in the previous chapter, online social networks have created a new set of interaction modes and relationship types, such as Facebook friends and Linkedin connections, that make it less invasive, more comfortable, and easier to ask favors of your network" (72). Christian may feel uncomfortable going through his phone book, calling his friends and telling them about his 'upcoming deals' for his restaurant. That is exactly where Facebook and other social media outlets come into play. Shih's novel explains the importance, as well as vital ways, to incorporate Facebook and other Social Media aspects into personal life as well as into a company.

Social Entrepreneurship

The book, Social Entrepreneurship written by David Bornstein and Susan Davis, makes crucial points about the evolution of social entrepreneurship. The first being the 'personality' of a social entrepreneur: one must have a passionate interest in simple questions, such as why can't we extend loans to villagers? and the like. The second must be to question one's society, such as the way inner city schools teach, and why they do. The third is to have a persistent outlook and determination to go to the source (such as the villages or inner city schools) and gain an understanding of the problems at hand(78).

However, the question of 'How can I make money being a social entrepreneur' still exists, and the perfect solution would be a company like TOMS Shoes. Blake Mycoskie, the owner and founder of TOMS Shoes, is the perfect example of a business that makes a profit, as well as helps those in need. If anyone has a personal interest and wants to help others, form a business around that idea, and put food on the table - that dream is more of a reality, especially in this generation - Generation Y.

"Philanthropists could use their influence with universities to encourage education and research focused on social entrepreneurship" (112). Colleges, as well as high schools, can have an underlying focus on helping others and forming a business plan as well. Making the world become aware of a problem is best done when it is in their face - such as when someone sees their classmate wearing a pair of TOMS Shoes, or wearing a Charity:Water t-shirt (http://www.charitywater.org/shop/) can make a huge difference.