Many professions are becoming more “social,” Domine said, and professors who turn their back on social media are not doing their students any favors. That’s why he and another instructor named Tony Stanislawski created their social media course.
And it’s not just about leading by example. Social media can help improve engagement between students and instructors, he said.
“For professors who are lacking in social media, think about what you do for a living,” Domine said. “You are there to share what you know and engage their students, have discussions, and share ideas. Social media provides tools for that.”
Faculty members are increasingly using social media in their professional and personal lives, but they remain wary of implementing its use in the classroom.
A study conducted by Babson Survey Research Group and Pearson found that more than half of faculty use social media — websites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn — in a professional context, a 10 percent jump from last year’s 45 percent.
Slightly more than 70 percent use social media for personal purposes.
Only four out of 10 faculty members reported using social media in the classroom.
Domine said he doesn’t expect faculty to be social media connoisseurs right away, but that just making a Twitter or LinkedIn account and exploring the sites can be an eye opening experience. He came up with a system that he calls “The Three Ls.”
First, he recommends just “lurking,” setting up an account and checking out what people do on the sites. The next step is to “listen” to what users are saying.
The last step then almost comes naturally: you begin to “learn” the techniques behind what everyone is doing.
“I’m such a believer that you have to just do it,” Domine said.
Follow Jake New on Twitter at @eCN_Jake.
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