Archive for May, 2007
This is a quick reminder as I've already mentioned the call for proposal of this conference on several occasions. If you have a good idea for a presentation, don't be shy, after reading the requirements, just go to the online form and submit your proposal to present at HighEdWebDev in Rochester, October 14-17. This year, there is a new "marketing and professional development track," chaired by Dan Chase from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. A couple of weeks ago, I asked via email Doug Tschopp, the conference program chair, a bit more details about this new track: The track may include presentations on...
Read MoreI've already written a lot about the possibilities offered by the Facebook API for our institutions. And, it seems that it is precisely the direction where Mark Zuckenberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, wants to lead his company. The announcement was made at F8, a big event in San Francisco last Thursday (I know it seems like everything happened at the end of last week - weird, just before the big holiday weekend) and reported in a PDF press release available on Facebook: SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook f8 Event, May 24, 2007 — Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg today unveiled Facebook...
Read MoreI don't know if any of you got a chance to pop up in Second Life last Friday as I suggested in my last post. I did (and I have a snapshot to prove it ;-). I spent about an hour listening to the presentation by the IBM folks after walking through the poster sessions. I also took the opportunity to make a small donation to the Memorial Hokie Fund Spirit in-world via one of the donation boxes available in Second Life. The conference was really interesting and fun at the same time (check out the Flickr photo pool), although I had...
Read MoreSorry for the short notice, but I completely missed the boat on this unique, exciting and FREE event happening in Second Life tomorrow: Second Life Best Practices in Education. Whether you have an SL avatar or not (if you don't, you can sign up - it's free), this is a great opportunity to get up-to-speed on what some of your faculty members might be doing / will be doing soon in the popular 3-D virtual world. The program is available online (all in Pacific time) and includes the different sessions/presentations and the direct links (slurls) to the conference locations. Since it's an International...
Read MoreThe 2007 EduWeb Conference will take place July 22-24 in Baltimore, MD. Today Friday is the last day to register and save a $100 on the conference fee. A few weeks ago, Shelley Wetzel, the EduWeb conference founder and director, accepted to answer a few questions about this year’s conference (as she did in 2006 and 2005 - it's kind of a tradition ;-). Speaking of traditions, I've already been contacted by a conference participant who offered to blog some of the sessions she'll be attending. If you want to get some guest blogging under your belt, feel free to...
Read MoreIf you've been reading this blog for more than 4 weeks, you know that I launched, just a month ago, Higher Ed Experts, a new website offering professional development and social networking opportunities to people working in universities and colleges. I thought you might be interested by a quick (despite the long list below ;-) update. So, here are the latest vital numbers of Higher Ed Experts: 373 registered members (21 associate members) at the time of this posting 278 higher ed institutions represented (check out the list below to find out if yours is already part of Higher Ed Experts) Georgetown University, University...
Read MoreAfter my post about a $0 conference for admissions folks, Gettysburg College's Portal 2007 Conference looks like another option for higher ed professionals - working in web and IT departments, this time - interested in attending an affordable conference to learn a couple of things and network with their peers. The conference will take place from June 5 to June 8 at Gettysburg College. You can still register online for only $100 (the initial early-bird price that includes the conference fees as well as all meals). Gettysburg College even offers affordable housing options in their residence hall for $45 a night....
Read MoreIt's not exactly Christmas in June, but an offer worth considering, especially if your conference budget is gone but not your travel budget. What's the catch? You have to be working in an Admissions office and the conference is organized by a consulting firm. Kristin Dodge Narjes (who works at this firm, James Tower, and is also a reader of this blog) made the following pitch in the email she sent me: The James Tower Technology in Student Recruitment Conference is an opportunity for admissions professionals to actively participate while learning. Coaches will guide attendees in creating action plans based on session topics like...
Read MoreIn a previous post titled "Professor Wesch from KSU featured in a great video report from The Chronicle," I raved about the first online video report produced by Jeffrey Young, Web Editor at The Chronicle: Produced by Jeffrey R. Young, the video report does an excellent job presenting Professor Wesch’s work at KSU as well as his famous YouTube video about Web 2.0. So earlier this week, after watching his second online video report about Case Western's SecondLife campus tour, I decided to email him to see if I could learn, for you my dear readers, more about about this new initiative...
Read MoreI've been tagged by Robert French for a meme making its way in the blogosphere. That's actually a first for me (and if it's the first time you read about blog memes, don't worry, they are contagious, but not lethal ;-) I thought it would be a great opportunity to highlight five of the great higher ed bloggers listed in my directory. You already know I'm really interested in communications, marketing, Web and admissions, that's why I also like to read blogs dealing with other areas of higher education. So, here we go in alphabetical order: Alumni Futures: Andrew Shaindlin, Executive Director...
Read MoreDennis Miller from Mansfield University has done a lot of great work creating and producing engaging podcasts to promote his institution to prospective students, their parents and the world. Lately, Dennis has been working on a new project, with video this time. In a recent post on his blog, "YouTube, Wrong Channel?", Dennis was second-guessing his decision to produce a few recruiting videos for YouTube after being told by female students that YouTube was mainly used by guys: I’ve mentioned in previous posts that my primary target audience in recruiting is mothers of high school age students. My secondary audience...
Read MoreI knew admissions-sponsored blogging was a hot topic when I originally asked Nancy Prater and Ben Jones if they would present a webinar to share their experience and know-how. What I didn't know is that both would be quoted extensively in an Associated Press story written by Andrew Welsh-Huggins and published in many newspapers and other news outlets this Monday. I'll take that as a good sign for "Admissions Blogging 360," a 3-webinar series presented on July 18, 25 and 31 by Nancy Prater, Ben Jones and Sam Jackson as part of Higher Ed Experts' professional development program. "Admissions Blogging 360" is a...
Read MoreWith the end of the semester (as well as most commencement ceremonies) behind us, things should finally start to slow down a bit for people working in universities and colleges. There's no better time for you to think about professional development opportunities. So, here is the selection I've put together for you: "How to go viral with your videos on YouTube" - June 14 (free but limited number of seats, registration required before June 1st) This free 1-hour event will feature Professor Wesch from KSU (the author of the YouTube hit about Web 2.0) and James Todd from Duke University. Registration is open...
Read MoreI'm currently doing some research for an upcoming feature article to be published in the Canadian publication, University Affairs, which explains why I've spent some quality time lately with the websites of a few Canadian institutions. As I was looking for contact information, I noticed a photo at the bottom of the right column of the University of Victoria's homepage. A single click brought me to the page of the Flickr group created by the University of Victoria, a group strong of 54 members and 458 digital shots at the time of this writing. To get one of their shots on the university...
Read MoreThe Chronicle of Higher Education offers a great video report this morning on his blog as part of a post titled "An Anthropologist Explores Video Blogging." Produced by Jeffrey R. Young, the video report does an excellent job presenting Professor Wesch's work at KSU as well as his famous YouTube video about Web 2.0. Too bad this Chronicle's video can't be embedded or shared easily as I'm sure it would have made a great piece of viral marketing for the Chronicle. Professor Wesch will give a presentation about his YouTube success (with over 2 million views, at the time of this posting)...
Read MoreThe Pew Internet Life & Project has just published its latest report: "A Typology of Information and Communication Technology Users." It is based on the findings of a daily tracking survey on Americans' use of the Internet, data gathered through telephone interviews conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates between February 15 and April 6, 2006, among a sample of 4,001 adults, aged 18 and older. As a result, this typology should also be very helpful to institutions targeting adult students. This 65-page report, available for free as a PDF file, identifies 10 types of technology users in the US that can be...
Read MoreSome of you might remember the words of Michael Dame, Director of Web Communications at Virginia Tech, in his letter to his higher ed colleagues (that would be you) he asked me to publish a couple of weeks ago: I hope that in the near future, we’ll have the opportunity to discuss our experiences to our mutual benefit as a higher education community. Well, I'm pleased to announced that Mike has accepted my invitation to share his experience at Higher Ed Experts' Crisis Communication 2.0 Week, a 3-webinar series that will take place on June 26, 27 and 28, 2007. Composed of...
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