By David Simpson
Participating in the student panel at the Faculty Summer Conference are, from left, Kirsten Blakey, Jaime Eller, Briana Davis (partially visible), Judia Griner and Johana Rocha. The event was held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center and was presented by the Center for Learning and Teaching. (Photo by Chuck Thomas)
Students have a message for 麻豆国产AV faculty:
Please connect with us.
Extend class outside the allotted time.
Engage us with fun digital content that relates to a lesson.
Those were some of the wishes expressed at a student panel discussion on Day 2 of the 2019 Faculty Summer Conference, presented in May by the Center for Learning and Teaching.
The panel was titled "Students' Thoughts on Social Media Use in the Classroom," but some students said the tool doesn't matter as long as there is communication.
Panelist Judia Griner, a psychology major, endorsed the idea of extending class.
"Sometimes I go to class and I learn about the things in class, but as soon as I step out of that door that class is over; it's not part of anything that I think about.
"But with social media or utilizing Blackboard, websites like that, you can kind of extend class, so instead of math being contained in that constant 101 room, now I'm constantly reminded, oh yeah, of course math is a thing. Because I'm on Blackboard I can see the discussion boards; I see the teacher trying to actively promote that kind of content outside the classroom ...."
With that level of connection, she said, "I can always think about the content I learn about because it's always around me."
It can be delightful when a faculty member reaches out, some panelists said.
"I've always thoroughly enjoyed when I've had the professor send a random video just through email," said Jaime Eller, a 3D design major.
If a faculty member doesn't have time to reach out to students, a teaching assistant could be designated to handle that role, Griner suggested.
Kirsten Blakey, a graphic design major, said she likes to see social media used in class because it makes the professor more reachable.
Panelists mentioned Facebook, GroupMe, Instagram, Reddit and Blackboard as some of their favorite tools for educational use.
Another opportunity to connect comes when graduation approaches and students start searching for jobs. Griner and Briana Davis, a cybersecurity major, said it's helpful when faculty make themselves available on the career network LinkedIn.
"It's important to get yourself out there," Davis said. "Some professors in my major give out their LinkedIn, and it's like, 'Hey, here's my LinkedIn, come to me, I have internships available, or I know people.' It's a very big help. It's also a way to feel more connected with that person."
Johana Rocha, a Ph.D. candidate in counselor education and supervision, cautioned that students may have valid fears about using some social media tools.
"It would be wonderful to have these conversations about social media openly in the classroom," she said, and to invite students to be a part of creating a safe space for communication.
The two-day Faculty Summer Conference, held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, was titled "Jumping on the Social Media Bandwagon: Is It Worth It?"
A list of "takeaways" contributed by the audience of mostly faculty members at the end of the day included these:
"Students really want communication with faculty and are wary of courses where technology is not used. Blackboard should represent the minimum level of engagement with them..."
"I was really struck by the students' feedback that it wasn't really the tool that mattered, but the fact that teachers put in real effort to make a connection."
"Social media is about connection - but can also be a learning tool."
Around campus, faculty have a variety of responses to questions about social media use. Many stay away from Facebook or Twitter and believe that such platforms are inappropriate for faculty-student engagement. Nevertheless, social media can extend the landscape of the classroom beyond the four walls of rooms on campus. Some faculty create blog sites for their courses, for instance, where they communicate with their students and students interact.
One faculty member concluded: "Social media can be helpful - if you choose to use it. If you don't, do what works best for you! Different platforms offer different benefits."