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Top 10 ed-tech stories of 2013, No. 9: Social media

“Flipped” and adaptive learning programs gained traction on campus. A high-profile internet hoax involving a college athlete propelled the term “catfishing” into the public consciousness. MOOCs hit some key stumbling blocks, while the notion of a college degree became more fluid.

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These were some of the key ed-tech developments affecting colleges and universities in the past year—and we’ve got a full recap for you right here.

In this special all-digital publication, the editors of eCampus News highlight what we think are the 10 most significant higher-education technology stories of 2013.

To learn how these stories have made an impact on colleges and universities this year—and how they’ll continue to shape higher education in 2014 and beyond—read on.

9. Social media continues to alter the higher-ed landscape—while also challenging campus leaders.

Colleges and universities have further expanded their use of social media in the past year, both in the classroom and in administrative offices.

In the classroom, more professors have incorporated social media as a key instructional tool, aiming to reach a new generation of students where their interests lie. For instance, while many professors ban tweeting and texting in class, Temple University instructor Jordan Shapiro encourages it to broaden discussion. What’s more, he counts it as classroom participation—and he often tweets back.

Still, Shapiro’s example is more the exception than the rule. While a survey of 8,000 faculty members by Babson Survey Research Group and Pearson found that 70 percent of faculty use social media for personal purposes, just four in 10 say they use social media in the classroom.

In campus administrative offices, as in the classroom, social media are used to engage and inform. College recruiters say their first contact with prospective students typically occurs through social media, and University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono is among the campus leaders who are using Twitter to lessen the distance between themselves and their “constituents.”

But social media continues to challenge campus leaders as well. Multiple states passed legislation this year to prevent campus officials from asking students for their social media passwords in an effort to monitor their accounts.

A survey by security software company AnchorFree found nearly 80 percent of college students in the U.S. and the U.K. are concerned that university authorities might be monitoring their online activities—and that they could face punishment for what campus officials are finding.

As college athletes wield more influence online, the NCAA has tried to educate athletes about responsible social media use. Some schools are using software to track their players’ Twitter feeds.

The dangers of social media were on full display in a story that captivated national attention in January—and propelled the term “catfishing” into the public eye.

On Jan. 16, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said star football player Manti Te’o was the victim of a cruel internet hoax, drawn into a virtual romance with a woman who used the phony name Lennay Kekua, and was fooled into believing she died of leukemia in September.

In the wake of the news, there were questions about whether he really was duped, as he claimed, or whether he was complicit in the hoax and misled the public, perhaps to improve his chances of winning the Heisman Trophy. Te’o came in second in the Heisman voting, propelled by one of the most compelling plot lines of the season.

The story also popularized the term “catfishing,” reinforcing how people can be manipulated easily via social media. And that’s a lesson that internet safety experts hope will catch on among students.

See also:

As athletes wield more influence online, NCAA tries to educate on social media [2]

‘Catfishing’ the latest challenge to web safety efforts [3]

At Temple, Twitter takes on a key role in class [4]

Legislation says universities can’t monitor social media accounts [5]

Students concerned about university spying [6]

The tweeting university president: ‘Students love it’ [7]

College recruiting shifts to social media [8]

Social media popular with faculty, but not yet in class [9]

Elite universities lead the way in social media use [10]

Googling of college applicants reaches all-time high [11]

IU engaging students where they live: on social media [12]