Tech Tuesdays: To Tweet Or Not To Tweet
That was the question in a survey by Faculty Focus in July that asked faculty at colleges and universities about their familiarity with Twitter, and whether they expected their use of the service to increase or decrease in the future.
The survey found that 30.7 percent — almost a third of the 1,958 higher ed professionals who responded — use Twitter in some capacity, most of them working in either marketing,admissions or alumni relations. But more than half — 56.4 percent — said they’ve never used Twitter. The 12.9 percent of professionals who remained said they’ve used Twitter before, but have stopped using it because it “took too much time” or did not think it was valuable.
Other findings of interest include:
- Twenty-one percent of those who use Twitter say they use the service to collaborate with colleagues “frequently. Another 15.6 percent use it “occasionally.”
- About 7.2 percent of professionals are using it as a tool in the classroom “frequently”; 9.4 percent do so “occasionally.”
- Of those who currently tweet, 71.8 percent plan to increase their useage this year.
Based on my own interpretation, it’s safe to say a) The majority of higher ed professionals don’t use Twitter b) Only a small group within those that use Twitter use it to communicate with colleagues or as a tool in the classroom C) BUT, more people might plan to use it this year.
Along with this Chronicle of Higher Ed article , which details two studies that say those under 25 “don’t tweet”, I just want to know who actually DOES use Twitter.
If you have an answer, I’d like to know.
Three Cheers for Tech Tuesdays (and The Return of CollegeAve).
Well, I’m back.
Usually the first post of the year introduces you all to the blog. We’ve been there, and done that.
Instead, I’m going to tell you what’s new (and what parts of College Ave are coming back)
- The return of Sunday Roundups. Think of it as a chance for me (and you) to catch things during the week I might have missed — or things you should keep an eye on in the week to come.
- Tech Tuesdays. Per last posts’ disclosure, I interned at the Chronicle of Higher Ed this summer and spent a lot of time contributing to their Wired Campus blog. Now I’ve been bitten by the Tech bug and can’t go back. There is a lot of cool stuff out there, and all of you techie readers (and the beloved IT departments) should look to read it here.
- Freaky Fridays There are some stories in higher ed that are just straight up crazy. (If you don’t know what I mean, check out my piece on mannequins.) Try as I may, I can’t ignore them all. And what better way to start off the weekend?
I’m also hoping to get in some Q+As. Those don’t have a day yet. In part because I haven’t lined them up … and in part because I can’t think of something clever to call them.
Here’s to a great year. And without further ado, Tech Tuesdays …
Feed for College Ave.