The Social Media Revolution in Buffalo, NY!

Intentions

Hey all, if you are a new member of the Buffalo Tweetup Ning group I think it would be good if we all stated our intentions on what we'd like to get out of this group, and any discussion topics, formal or informal.

I just got back from Podcamp so that I could learn to Podcast, but there is much more I need to learn. I am a woodturner and I would like to share my craft with the world! I would like to discuss how to use video, podcasting, and the social media tools to gain an audience.

In the future I would also like to discuss how I might get sponsored by companies in my genre, and begin to build a business from this.

These are things I am interested in. please chime in and let everyone know what you are using social media tool;s for in your life, goals, business or just for fun.

Keith

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jim Milles on March 17, 2008 at 9:30am: Not exactly. Flock is a browser that lets you integrate all your online tools--or most of them, anyway. So Flock is an alternative to Firefox, IE, Safari, or Opera. It's not a website.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith Burtis on March 14, 2008 at 6:00pm: Lisa, Exactly what are the goals?? I think everyone has different goals. I dont think any 2 people are the same in the way that they interact on the net. Are student going to stay "connected" with faculty? Are students seeing themselves as rats in a cage so that their habits van be viewed by the faculty or administrators? Students in this day and age are "Digital Natives" We look at the net and social networking as "tools"...students look at it as "Television" and they surf the channels at will with incredible ease. Like anything else you have to catch them in their trances. Meet them where they are. Students need to have their needs met....video...gaming...networking...etc..., and the trance for one student may not meet the trance of another student. I guess I would look at it from their prospective rather than from an idealistic prospective. Social Networking for our kids and students is fun. It's a way that they connect. Attach that to "School", tie it to "Homework" or something they should do...and it becomes no fun. So, I guess to sum it all up, I would think that it would be important to have the "Network" as a destination rather than a to do.
Would love to chat over phone sometime.
Keith; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 17, 2008 at 9:39am: Keith, our goals are to simply connect with our students, we are finding that some of the methods we used in the past do not work well anymore. For example it is difficult to reach some students with the university e-mail account or to call them on their dorm phone. We would also like to be part of the "conversation" so that we can learn from what they are saying and also correct any mis-information that is floating around in cyberspace. Our hope is that we will create a place they will like to go to get information. Thanks for you insight.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith Burtis on March 17, 2008 at 3:57pm: Lisa, here is what I am thinking. Make it a multi media expererience for them. Allow them to create media through, video, audio, short movies or whatever to help promote the social network. If the students are involved in the initial creation of the site and it's contents they will tell all of their friends where to see their video, audio...whatever. Another idea id to promote specific study areas like lets say the business department. Have a couple of the kids walk around with either a video camera, or an Ederol, or other digital recording device that they could use to "Interview" other students. This is very viral because not only do the passionate students get to share their thoughts, but it also helps enrollment in these topical studies. We did something like this in High School where we produced a video for the business department, but now days things don't need to be that formal. If I was on staff there I would find students that are very passionate about their specific area of study and start generating podcasts on those topics. Not only can current students learn from this but there will be a recruiting database there. Students coming in that have no idea what they want to do may find themselves trying things they might not otherwise try. Last but not least...you...the administration will learn more because it will not be "staged". Let me know what you think.
Keith Burtis; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 18, 2008 at 11:55am: I love the idea of involving students in the ways you suggested. I think our facebook group works well because we have students leading it. Having the ability for students to add pictures, videos etc. is important too, this is one reason I like Ning because all of that is built in. We are very, very interested in podcasts too. As we proceed I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Permalink Reply by Keith Burtis on March 14, 2008 at 11:48pm: Lisa, you might find this interesting. Chris is a very smart guy in the social media space. http://shiftingcareers.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/the-web-20-resume/
It was posted in the Times last week.
Talks about social media / multi-media resumes.
Chris blogs at "The Financial Aid Podcast" as well
Chris has a Podcast called "Marketing Over Coffee" w/ John Wall
Chris also has a daily Podcast at Financial Aid Podcast; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lisa on March 17, 2008 at 9:40am: Nice! I will take a look and even get the benefit of some financial advice.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Keith Burtis on March 17, 2008 at 4:27pm: Lisa, check out this site, it came from a new friend on twitter.
http://podcast.iu.edu/Portal/

( jg_howard ) is where the information came from on twitter. Check him out if you have a twitter account, if you don't have one,...get one :)

His website is here: http://jghoward.com/

Thx -- Keith; ▶ Reply to This