The internet has been abuzz the last couple of days after UK-based Birmingham City University announced it would offer a master’s degree level program in social media.
Eyebrows have been raised and critics on both sides of the concept have been weighing in on the idea that college students could soon be able to earn a graduate degree based on their knowledge and ability to use Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Bebo.
The Program
The one-year course in social media will explain how to set up blogs and publish podcasts in addition to focusing on social networking sites as communications and marketing tools.
The designer of the program, Jon Hickman offered the following insights to the British media:
“During the course we will consider what people can do on Facebook and Twitter, and how they can be used for communication and marketing purposes. It’s not for freaks or IT geeks, the tools learned in this course will be accessible to many people.”
Required to conform to university academic standards, the course will “entail synoptic research and scholarly activity,” two fundamental criteria for approval for a Masters level program. The new concept will feature a mixture of lectures, seminars, research workshops, presentations and field-trips.
To earn a masters in social media, students will have to complete either a social media production project or an original piece of research in the form of a 15000-word dissertation.
The Basis for Providing a Program
As for a rationale for a graduate program in social media, Hickman went on to add:
“It’s very relevant and very scholarly. It’s a new course, but its importance is unquestionable.
“Social media is very important for jobs within the marketing and communications sector, as a skill set within other jobs, and as an industry within itself.”
Hickman is not the first to propose the future importance of social media. Michael Wesch, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State, has often advocated that Facebook could be a useful tool in the educational setting.
Well-known for a number of YouTube videos that have taken the internet by storm, Wesch offers that as a university professor he has found Facebook to be very useful.
The professor understood long ago that Facebook was not only a great tool for expressing a person’s identity and sharing that identity with friends, the site provided all the tools necessary to create an online learning community.
Based on Wesch’s support for the use of Facebook, some have postured that all teacher training programs should involve some instruction in social media.
However, the Birmingham program will focus more on the business use of social media and using this new technology for commercial gain. Information available at the school’s web page also notes the new MA program will not only explore the techniques of social media as a creative industry but will seek to contribute new research and knowledge as to other potential uses for these networking sites.
Many Questioning the Instructional Value
Naturally, there are critics of the new program. Many people see social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace as nothing more than off-task behavior for today’s net generation. These critics find the idea that colleges have begun offering courses in social media nothing short of appalling.
At the same time, the generation that has become dubbed as digital natives is wondering why anyone would need a course to learn how to socialize on Facebook or converse with Twitter. After announcing the program, Hickman could find a number of blogs that were insisting that the program as constructed was too basic.
In addition, there was a question as to who would teach these courses as there certainly can not be any credentialed college professors who themselves have earned a degree in the social networking field. That led some to postulate that the students in the program would likely know more than those responsible for course instruction.
Indeed with such a cutting-edge program, knowledge would appear to be developing every day - in fact, as yet another critic postulated, the developments in social media are occurring so rapidly the program will likely be out-of-date before the first graduating class heads off into the sunset.
More details on the university set to break the mold are available here.
Flickr photos courtesy of Amit Gupta and Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten.
With the expense of a college education continuing to be a major challenge, students would do well to consider one of the many tuition-free colleges available.
For those students with a real interest in service and character education, tuition-free Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., represents an exceptionally affordable educational option.
Educating the Whole Person
Founded by Alice Spencer Geddes Lloyd, a former publisher and editor of The Cambridge Press, the school is known for programming that transcends academics. With the help of June Buchanan, Caney Junior College was created in 1923 with a focus on preparing students for roles of leadership and service.
School programming was and remains designed to develop students’ lives “spiritually, intellectually, socially, and physically.” The school features the Caney Convocation Series, a special leadership course required of freshmen students, and continuously seeks to integrate Christian principles into all aspects of campus life.
Set in Eastern Kentucky, Alice Lloyd, also known as Leadership U., has been the source for a brighter future for the people of Appalachia. In fact, its emphasis on character and service come in great part because of the school’s location and the needs of the people in that area.
Admission Criteria Based on More than Academics
The school’s academic admission criteria would not categorize the school as selective. Reserving its right to consider various criteria in addition to academics, the school requires only that freshmen score either a 17 on the ACT or obtain a 430 Verbal score and a 400 math score on the SAT, and have a minimum 2.25 GPA in high school. The school will even consider students without a high school diploma as long as other specific criteria are met.
In addition, the college insists it has never turned away a student because of financial need. Beginning with its initial foundation in 1923, the school was home to “penniless students” who “provided what they could in exchange for their education.”
Many of those students were in fact responsible for constructing some of the campus buildings still in use. Today, that tradition continues in the form of the student work program.
Fully accredited as a four-year college in 1980, ALC is one of just eight work colleges in America. The importance of work ethic began with Lloyd and remains a critical component of the school environment.
All full-time students must work at least 10 hours per week at the school to be eligible to graduate from ALC. However, in return for their service, each student receives free tuition to the school.
Students in need of additional funding support to help pay for room and board may request to work up to 15 hours per week during the school year or additional opportunities over the summer months. Work options include tutoring fellow students, working in the school kitchen, secretarial and maintenance.
Ultimately, instead of paying other adults to handle these responsibilities, the school prides itself in investing its money in its students. The school in turn believes that these work experiences are fundamental to helping students develop their leadership skills.
Cost Effective, Rewarding Academic Options
Since 1980, hundreds of students have earned baccalaureate degrees at Alice Lloyd, doing so at little or no personal financial cost. Despite being home to only 500-600 students, the school’s degree options are quite varied in number.
Bachelor of Arts Degree programs exist in Business Administration, Interdisciplinary Studies, English and History as well as in numerous teaching areas (elementary, middle school, and Physical, English and Social Studies Education). Bachelor of Science degrees are available in Biology and Physical Science as well as a Biological Science Education program for teachers at the middle and high school level.
The school offers minors in Chemistry, Biology, Computer Information, Mathematics, Accounting and Sociology and a number of pre-professional programs in Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy and Veterinary Medicine.
And as for its attempts to control student debt loads, the school receives very high marks. Alice Lloyd College has been named by US News&World Report as one of America’s top colleges for graduating students with the least amount of debt.
When it comes to future careers, the reality is that most of us cannot even fathom what some of the more sophisticated job options will be. But if you want to put yourself on the cutting edge of technology and in a position to step into one of those careers that has yet not even been created, you may want to consider one of the following study options.
Microtechnology and Nanotechnology
When it comes to technology, the bottom line is that everything is getting smaller. From the miniature electronic accelerometers that trigger airbag deployments in autos to the incredible versatility built into today’s smartphones, technology is growing ever smaller even as it grows more sophisticated.
Perhaps no field holds greater promise for the future than the field of microtechnology. It is a career option that is so cutting edge that academic programming and degree options are just now being created.
Microtechnology is a concept that takes massive amounts of information and/or mechanical processes and then condenses them into a microchip for use in computers, mobile phones, medical devices, automobile computer systems, and security products. Items are made utilizing integrated circuit processing techniques and range in size from one-millionth (micro) to one-one thousandth (milli) of a meter.
Moving even smaller is a separate field called nanotechnology. The prefix “nano” originates from a Greek word meaning one billionth of a specified unit. Therefore, nanotechnology is a subsection of microtechnology involving the study of objects that are 1,000 times smaller.
The construction of new nanotube-based components could ultimately revolutionize aeronautics. Carbon nanotubes (pictured right) are lighter than steel but 100 times stronger. Such materials will allow airplanes and spacecraft to fly higher while using less fuel and have led researchers to imagine a future with spy planes the size of insects.
People who work in the field are often called microtechnicians and of course span a broad range of industries. Potential career options range from medicine to defense systems and will likely involve every technical career in between. Ultimately, scientists believe this new technology will surpass the scope of the computer revolution, potentially affecting everything from the construction of batteries to the treatment of cancer.
The National Science Foundation estimates the U.S. will need 800,000 to 1 million nanotechnology workers over the next ten years. Because of those potential future demands, the foundation has established nanotechnology centers at six different universities, each conducting research in potential cutting-edge applications.
For some additional information on this cutting edge option, head on over to the Oklahoma State University web site.
Visual Representation of Complex Data
The explosion in technology has made information gathering and collection much easier for researchers. In addition, scientific research is growing in complexity. The result can be a disconnect between the results of in-depth research and the ability of non-researchers to make sense of the data that has been created.
Therefore, representing complex data for readers, whether it be citizens trying to make sense of information online or other researchers not versed in sophisticated mathematical operations, is a growing challenge. In simplest terms, the idea is to be able to accurately reflect numbers and facts in visual form to help the public and/or decision-makers interpret the data being presented.
Today, there are now courses and a field of study that examine visual representation methods and techniques all with an eye towards increasing the understanding of complex data. The field focuses in on how we humans process information visually and therefore looks at the best design practices for visualization. This unique career option crosses over into the world of computer programming languages yet offers some of the creative flair of the graphic arts field.
The field has even spawned an interactive visualization application program called Processing. The concept is putting an end to the over-reliance on traditional graphs and charts.
At Harvard, one course in data visualization has most elements available online for students interested in learning more about this career option.
Human-Computer Interaction
Yet another amazing cutting edge career option involves the push towards meshing technological capabilities with their human counterpart. An entire institute has been formed at Carnegie Mellon that has as its mission, “To understand and create technology that harmonizes with and improves human capabilities, goals, and social environments.”
Looking to study the effects of computer science on society, these programs feature interdisciplinary research and education in computer design and the fields of behavioral and social science. In simplest terms, the field looks at the full cycle of our new exploding, information-rich society, and examines the effect of technology on how we adults work, play and communicate.
For those concerned that our technological advances are not leading to improved lives for individuals and groups, the field of human-computer interaction may just be the place to work. Ensuring that our technology does in fact improve the lives of citizens is as critical as the theoretical creation of new technologies.
For more on this incredibly important field, head on over to the Carnegie Mellon web site.
Flickr photos courtesy of St Stev, chromedecay and ario j.
There has been a long tradition of students from European countries taking a year off from school to work and travel. The year away, dubbed a gap year, has customarily been taken upon the completion of high school and prior to starting college.
The number of Americans taking time to work and travel has always been far less. In fact, the concept on this side of the pond tends to be associated only with upper-middle-class students from private schools.
But amidst the worst economic recession in decades, some are suggesting that it may well be time for more students to give greater consideration to the gap-year experience. Add to that fact the potential of a revamped financial aid system and it is clear that the gap year concept could well be a great choice for many more Americans this year.
Benefits of a Gap Year
When considering a gap year, most students envision using the time to travel and to gain additional work experience. Occasionally, some individuals also seek to improve their academic preparation during their year away from school.
The benefits of a gap year are well-documented. Students taking a year off before entering college “mature earlier than their peers who come straight to college from high school.” Taking the time to travel or work full-time will expose students to a number of challenges that are distinct from those experiences one obtains in the school setting. The result is the chance to develop additional personal skills, making it easier for you to handle the social and intellectual stresses that come with college demands.
In addition, students who take a gap year are able to get a better grip on what it is they want to do with the rest of their life. A gap year is particularly helpful to students who are unsure where they want to attend school or the course of study they want to pursue.
Experiencing a gap year enables students to explore different job options, a process that ensures they are able to better determine their choice of college major. In many instances, the gap year also helps a student decide if college is really in the cards for them. A year of work and answering to a supervisor can give a person a new perspective regarding four years of additional study.
Lastly, if students are concerned about their overall academic preparation, a gap year with a focus on sharpening academic skills can be exceedingly helpful. Taking a couple of adult education classes or community college courses are an inexpensive way to sharpen those math, writing and technology skills. They can also give students a taste of what the college environment will consist of, again helping a student make a more informed decision.
Effect of Financial Crisis
In writing for the NY Times, Johnathan D. Glater offers his thoughts as to how the economic recession and the proposed policies of the Obama administration could well make the gap year an even better choice for certain students this year.
President Obama’s college proposals, legislation that offers “the most sweeping changes in federal college aid programs in decades” according to Glater, include significant increases in aid for needy students. If passed, the legislation would offer more fixed rate, low-interest student loans as well as larger grants for those students who qualify.
Glater notes the changes must first go through Congress. Therefore, if they are to be approved, the expanded financial support for students would not take effect until July 2010. Ultimately, waiting a year could put a student in a position to access these additional funds.
Though likely to be a relatively small increase, Glater goes on to note that if the student applying represents the oldest in the family, waiting another year could place that individual in college with a younger sibling or siblings for more overlapping years. With benefits also contingent on the number of family members in school at the same time, waiting a year could well positively impact a family’s overall outside support significantly.
In addition, Glater notes that asking to defer admission for a year, something colleges generally are very willing to do, could be critical for those families with parents worried about their current job security or who have been negatively impacted by the financial downturn. Irrespective of the job issue, Glater notes that all families will face greater challenges securing credit and college loans in the current environment.
Add to that fact the impact of the economic downturn on everyone’s college savings plans and now might simply not be the time to begin taking on the substantial costs associated with attending college.
Will Times Be Better?
Of course, there is the possibility that the Obama plan will not pass Congress. There is also the potential that our economic funk may not be over. Certainly, while everyone is hopeful that better times are just around the corner, we are experiencing a more severe economic downturn than anyone could have previously imagined.
Glater does offer a balanced view, quoting Seth Allen, dean of admission and financial aid at Grinnell College in Iowa:
“There’s a real possibility things could be worse,” warn Allen. “What if the markets have actually dropped further, and the kind of economic news coming out suggests that unemployment will continue to rise and endowments for the foreseeable futures will remain flat?”
In other words, the competition for funds could be even greater a year from now. Therefore, today’s economic difficulties should not cause students to consider a gap year if a student has not considered the idea previously.
Is the Gap Year Right for You?
Clearly, taking a year off from school has documented benefits. Another year to gain experience and to earn some additional funds are two great ways to help students be better prepared for the rigors of college.
Such a year can help students confirm whether or not college is truly the next step for them. It can also be extremely helpful towards clarifying their potential career goals and therefore shed great light on their choice of college and major.
And a year away from full-time school can also be used to help improve academic preparation should a student be in need of such.
One may then add to these traditional benefits the two points raised by Glater, the issues brought about by our current economic downturn and the aid proposals of President Obama. Collectively, they represent a strong basis for considering a gap year.
However, making such a choice based solely on Glater’s financial concerns may well be nothing more than a gamble. Therefore, students should seriously consider a gap year only if they believe that the experience will better prepare them for their future, whether that future will consist of a move straight into the workforce or the pursuit of a college diploma.
Simply stated, a gap year is not for everyone. But the rationale for taking one has grown given the recent economic developments in our country.
Editors Note: For more on the gap year concept including help with determining possible gap year experiences, peruse one of the many Gap Program websites available on the web. A search on the phrase gap year will provide a wealth of sites that discuss the concept further while a search of gap year programs will bring you to sites that assist students with a gap year experience.
Flickr photos courtesy of Cats-Eye-View, tacitreqieum and Chichacha.
The one-year course in social media will explain how to set up blogs and publish podcasts in addition to focusing on social networking sites as communications and marketing tools.
At the same time, the generation that has become dubbed as digital natives is wondering why anyone would need a course to learn how to socialize on Facebook or converse with Twitter. After announcing the program, Hickman could find a number of blogs that were insisting that the program as constructed was too basic.
For those students with a real interest in service and character education, tuition-free Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Ky., represents an exceptionally affordable educational option.
The school’s academic admission criteria would not categorize the school as selective. Reserving its right to consider various criteria in addition to academics, the school requires only that freshmen score either a 17 on the ACT or obtain a 430 Verbal score and a 400 math score on the SAT, and have a minimum 2.25 GPA in high school. The school will even consider students without a high school diploma as long as other specific criteria are met.
Since 1980, hundreds of students have earned baccalaureate degrees at Alice Lloyd, doing so at little or no personal financial cost. Despite being home to only 500-600 students, the school’s degree options are quite varied in number.
Moving even smaller is a separate field called nanotechnology. The prefix “nano” originates from a Greek word meaning one billionth of a specified unit. Therefore, nanotechnology is a subsection of microtechnology involving the study of objects that are 1,000 times smaller.
The explosion in technology has made information gathering and collection much easier for researchers. In addition, scientific research is growing in complexity. The result can be a disconnect between the results of in-depth research and the ability of non-researchers to make sense of the data that has been created.
Looking to study the effects of computer science on society, these programs feature interdisciplinary research and education in computer design and the fields of behavioral and social science. In simplest terms, the field looks at the full cycle of our new exploding, information-rich society, and examines the effect of technology on how we adults work, play and communicate.
When considering a gap year, most students envision using the time to travel and to gain additional work experience. Occasionally, some individuals also seek to improve their academic preparation during their year away from school.
Glater notes the changes must first go through Congress. Therefore, if they are to be approved, the expanded financial support for students would not take effect until July 2010. Ultimately, waiting a year could put a student in a position to access these additional funds.
Clearly, taking a year off from school has documented benefits. Another year to gain experience and to earn some additional funds are two great ways to help students be better prepared for the rigors of college.