INTEGRATING SOCIAL MEDIA INTO THE INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY

COURSE

Laura FrebergCalifornia Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY LOOKS LIKE…

2012 and the future—We are becoming a more universal, diverse, connected, engaged,

and social community.

What is social media?

Social media combines “a wide range of online, word-of-mouth forums including blogs, company sponsored discussion boards and chat rooms, consumer-to-consumer e-mail, consumer product or service ratings websites and forums, Internet discussion boards and forums, microblogs” (Mangold & Faulds, 2009, p. 358). Social media integrates technology & social

interaction with pictures, videos, words, and audio.

It allows people to share different perspectives and information / stories / experiences among online communities

Social media adds a voice for the user.

William James on Teaching

“…in teaching, you must simply work your pupil into such a state of interest in what you are going to teach him that every other object of attention is banished from his mind.” –William James

Why Use Social Media?

o Social Media Revolution 2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SuNx0UrnEo

o Students are already doing this (beat them or join them)

o Their world, both social and work-related, will use social media

o Opportunities for teaching critical thinking and information competency

o Ability to capture real-time social behavior.

Opportunities in Social Media

Some Starting Points….

Twitter Class accounts Questions and answers Follow key Psychologists &

Organizations (e.g. APS, APA)

Virtual Office Hours Social Searches

Facebook Virtual office hours Question and answer Share links and news

reports Facebook for Educators

Google+ Virtual office hours through Google Hangouts Meetings via conference calls Research collaboration Mashable Google + Guide

YouTube and Vimeo Students select videos relevant to course

content Students construct videos

Infographics Prepare infographics to share with class Infographic Database: Visual.ly & Example

Quora Questions and answers Analyze who is supplying

answers Network with others Emerging Technologies

in Mobile QR (Quick Response) codes

and augmented reality Research current trends in

this form of technology How can this technology be

used in Psychology (e.g. Cockroach Phobia & Augmented Reality)

Always Something New….

Pinterest had more traffic in January than YouTube, Google+, and LinkedIn.

Use Mashable to get started: http://mashable.com/2011/12/26/pinterest-beginners-guide/

How to incorporate social media into research Data Mining

Social mention (All social media) Topsy Analytics (Twitter + Google+)

Collaboration Word Press Tumblr

Content analysis of Quora Post presentations (via Slideshare) and

videos (YouTube or Vimeo) highlighting research

Capstone or Senior Projects to create Mobile App to be used for Psychology research or practice http://www.magmito.com/blog/

Best Practices

Incorporate social media class policies into the syllabus

Become transdisciplinary – work with professionals in other disciplines who are also incorporating social media into class & research

Spend a little bit of time each day looking at trends in social media to stay current

Lead by example – set up a personal website, start writing a blog, and be consistently active and present on the various social media platforms.

Do consider accessibility for your student population.

Educate your department, students, and fellow colleagues within the Psychology community.

Future of Social Media

Baekel. T. (April 27, 2009). Where is everyone? Baekel Online Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.baekdal.com/articles/Management/market-of-information/.

Social Media Resources Main resources

Mashable (great social media blog and site): http://mashable.com/

Social Media Classroom Resources: http://socialmediaclassroom.com/community/wiki/participatory-media-teaching-and-learning-resources

Digital Buzz (latest trends in mobile and other digital media): http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/

The Google of Social Media - Samepoint.com

Another good search engine -Socialmention.com

Social Media Influence (Case studies): http://socialmediainfluence.com/

Psychology and Social Media Resources Pew Research Internet

Resources: http://www.pewinternet.org/

Media Psychology Research Center blog: http://mprcenter.org/blog/

Karen Freberg: karen.freberg@louisville.edu

Psychology of Popular Media Culture: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/ppm/index.aspx

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Laura Freberg, Ph.D.California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

lfreberg@calpoly.edu

Website: www.laurafreberg.comBlog: www.laurafreberg.com/blogTwitter: @lfreberg

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