Transcript Oklahoma State University Amanda Mollet Kevin Kraft Carl Segura “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into.

Oklahoma State University
Amanda Mollet
Kevin Kraft
Carl Segura
“The only way to discover the limits of
the possible is to go beyond them
into the impossible.”
Arthur C. Clarke, “Technology and the Future”
Goal for this Staff Development
• To identify and describe, in some
detail, five issues, programs or services,
within the student services realm,
where technology has radically
changed how the college delivers its
programs and services to students
Overview
• Why is technology important in student
affairs?
• Student characteristics and expectations
• 5 areas that have changed or are currently
changing student services today
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Comprehensive Database Software
Online Resources
Social Networking Services
Methods of Communication
Knowledge Sharing
• Technology’s impact on students
• Recommendations
“The Year of the Personal
Computer”
85.8%
Student Affairs and Technology
Adapted from Dare, L. (2006). Technology in student affairs: Seeking knowledge, craving community. Student Affairs Online, 7(2).
The reason technology is a hot topic everywhere is that
technology affects almost everything we do in student affairs.
Student Affairs and Technology
• Research has shown that student affairs
professionals are not being well prepared to
deal with the challenges of integrating
technology into their work.
• As professionals then it is our duty to
acknowledge the importance of technology
in our work, and to improve our programs and
services to adapt to the changing
needs of a tech-savvy student
population.
A Profile of Today’s Students
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Mr. McApple
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is the stereotypical millennial student
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McApple University ‘11
Male
Whatever I can Get
January 15, 1989
McAppleville
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Personal Info
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Favorite Music:
Favorite TV Shows:
Favorite Books:
Favorite Quotes:
About Me:
[email protected]
123 McApple Hall
www.onecoolguysblog.com
student government, using my
ipod, facebooking, emailing
friends, Halo, podcasting,
multitasking, texting, collecting
winning ribbons from every event I
have ever been part of
fast food, getting what I want,
winning, blogs
I don’t like to read.
I like to work in groups. I multitask
constantly, I am in college to earn
more money
Millennial Students
• Millennials are people who were born
between 1982 and now, which includes
our current and future college student
population
• Characteristics of Millennials
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Specialness
Sheltered
Confident
Conventional
Team-oriented
Achieving
Pressured
A Vision of Students Today
From Their Point of View
On average each day students sleep for 7 hours…
…spend 1.5 hours watching TV…
…spend 3.5 hours online…
…listen to music for 2.5 hours…
…talk on a cell phone for 2
hours…
…spend 3 hours in class…
…spend 2 hours eating…
…go to work for 2 hours…
…and study for 3 hours…
This totals 26.5 hours a day,
nearly half of which involve technology
A Vision of Students Today
Students will read 8 books this year…
…surf to 2,300 websites…
…look at 1,200 Facebook profiles…
Students will write 42 pages for class…
…and over 500 pages of email…
We must use technology to
reach out to and serve our
students!
Student Expectations
• Millennial students are constantly connected
(via cell phone, PDA, etc.)
• Instant gratification is part of life (Want a song?
Download it now! Want research? Google it!)
• Parents want to be informed of everything
(grades, housing arrangements, disciplinary
issues, mental health, campus emergencies,
etc.)
• This connection has resulted in higher
expectations of the university and
an increased demand for customer
service.
Higher Expectations for Customer
Service
Keep parents in the loop
Less tolerance for delays
Interaction is preferred
Computers are second nature –
mastery of essential functions is critical
• Ethos and professionalism very
important
• Accessibility is key – things need
to be available at your
fingertips
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Technological Innovations
and Student Affairs
Innovation:
Implementation of a new or significantly improved
idea, good, service, process or practice that is
intended to be useful
Innovations at McApple which affect our division:
1. Comprehensive Database Software
2. Online Resources
3. Social Networking Services
4. Channels of Communication
5. Knowledge Sharing
Comprehensive Software
Solutions
• Comprehensive Software Solutions
include programs that control the
organization, storage, management, and
retrieval of data from a database
Comprehensive Software
Solutions
• Students expect a seamless integration of
our operations and services with technology
• We have record-keeping requirements and
need to maintain accurate, thorough
documentation
• Software Solutions, like databases, internet
portals and networks, allow us to reduce
environmental impact, delay to students,
and administrative hassle
Comprehensive Software
Solutions
Ask yourself:
• Who do you work with on a regular
basis? What information do you
share?
• What information do you have access
to? What information do you need to
have access to?
• How can your department
coordinate with others?
Comprehensive Software Solutions
• Division-wide intranet allows the sharing
of documents and information
• Residence Life now has the ability to let
students sign up for housing online!
• Meal plans are electronically tracked
and swiped like credit cards
• Judicial Affairs coordinates with
Residential Life to track incident
reports and monitor student
outcomes.
Comprehensive Software Solutions
• Student Activities hosts a web portal for all
registered student groups, which tracks
group memberships, generates leadership
transcripts and provides an online
community
• Counseling has anonymous online
screenings and maintains electronic records
for all clients
• Student Health manages complete
patient care and is in compliance
with new federal laws via the
creation of electronic medical
records
Comprehensive Software Solutions
• New Student Orientation uses event
management software to plan summer
previews and fall orientation and integrates
with the registrar to track student retention
• Student disability services automatically
updates students’ electronic medical
records, registrar’s database and housing
information to reflect requested
accommodations
• Career Services maintains a database
of employers and new alumni, and
automatically sends email blasts
when current students are seeking a
related job.
Online Resources
• Online resources are items and
information readily available to
students on the internet
• In our division of student affairs, each
department utilizes online resources to
benefit students
Online Resources
• Long gone are the days when a
student must meet face-to-face with
staff to have their needs met
• Instead, we provide more services and
resources at the click of a mouse
• Progressive and rapid innovations in
online resources enhance our ability
to reach students
Online Resources
• In residential life:
– Potential students have the opportunity to view
residence halls via virtual tour or floor plans
before they set foot on campus
– Students can also sign up for the room of their
choice from the comfort of their computer
– Residence halls can create their own webpage
of event information, staff contacts, updates,
and resources
– Policies and Procedures can be posted
online for instant access
Online Resources
• In student activities:
– New students can easily identify groups of interest
and find up-to-date contact information for them via
an online master list
– Online Leadership Certification programs provide an
online, verified record of student involvement to
include with final academic transcripts
• Students’ cumulative volunteer hours are
maintained
• Student involvement and leadership positions
are documented
– Interactive calendar of student activities
helps students become connected to
events on campus
– Advertising online can be an effective way to
increase program attendance
Online Resources
• In counseling and student health:
– Use of online surveys help to remove the
stigma associated with counseling while
allowing students to get the assistance they
need
– Online drug and alcohol assessments
– Alcohol education courses also can be
utilized online
– Definitions and symptoms of medical
ailments or mental health issues can
educate the student population
Online Resources
• In the other student affairs departments:
– Career services can post resume and cover
letter writing tips, showcase jobs and job fairs,
and do mock interviews via webcams
– Disability services can publicize what
programs and services they offer to reach
students who may not realize that they have
a learning disability
– Orientation services can develop websites
to highlight events such as freshmen
preview weekends and opening week
Social Networking Services
A social network service focuses on the building
and verifying of online social networks for
communities of people who share interests and
activities, or who are interested in exploring the
interests and activities of others, and which
necessitates the use of software
Most services are primarily web based and provide
a collection of various ways for users to interact,
such as chat, messaging, email, video,
voice chat, file sharing, blogging, discussion groups,
and so on
Examples include Facebook,
MySpace, Hi5, and Friendster
McApple College
Think different.
Social Networking Services
• How do these applications change what we
do in Student Affairs?
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To help answer this consider a related question: What is the first thing many of us do
in Student Affairs when we are planning a program?
• Start a Facebook group!
• In departments such as Residential Life, Student Activities, and
Career Services, sites like Facebook are vital to student
outreach
• Social networks allow for easy access to large groups of
students as well as targeted marketing (ex. Students in a
particular building, major, etc.)
• From advertising programs and services to recruitment
of students to campus organizations, social networking
services are not only our present but our future, as
there currently are an estimated 200 social networking
websites, including some that are specifically
created by and for universities!
McApple College
Think different.
Social Networking Services
• Don’t forget about counseling, orientation
services, and judicial affairs:
Counseling – “When students begin to deal with deeper identity issues,
academic difficulties, or personal problems , online social networking can
serves as a valuable resource.”X
Orientation Services – Online social networking can benefit students by
facilitating an initial sense of connection and community, important
support factors essential for successful educational transitions. They also
allow students to maintain vital links to their past, which can help when a
new student becomes homesick
Judicial Affairs – Codes of conduct and incident reporting must be updated
to deal with the new medium of online social networking sites.
Can you document someone who has pictures or videos
posted of drinking alcohol in their room? What about hate
speech? Schools must thoughtfully consider how to handle
these types of situations due to this advance
in technology.
McApple College
Think different.
Social Networking Services
“Despite it’s newness or perhaps
because of it, connecting to
collegiate peers through Facebook,
MySpace and other online social
networks has rapidly developed into a
significant technological and
interactive feature of contemporary
student life.”
“From blogs to MySpace pages to podcasts, today’s
college-bound students are using technology to
engage in a host of social networking activities that
build communities.”
McApple College
Think different.
Channels of Communication
• Communication can range from very
subtle processes of exchange, to full
conversations, to mass communication
• Technological advances have
revolutionized the way we communicate
today
• Channels include cell phones, email,
blogs, instant messaging, listservs, and
podcasts among others
McApple College
Think different.
Channels of Communication
• The expectation of increased and
expedient communication has upped
the ante for how we correspond with
each other and our students
• The wide array of communication
media also make it imperative that
student affairs professionals are
technologically competent
McApple College
Think different.
Channels of Communication
• Cell phones allow for instantaneous contact, which is
essential for every department in the division to
coordinate services
• Email is now the dominant form of communication
because of its ease and ability to deliver large amounts
of information
• Blogs are becoming increasingly common for colleges
and universities to showcase themselves to current and
prospective students
• Instant messaging is yet another avenue through which
students often communicate, which makes it necessary
to offer feedback through this channel
• Listservs are effective ways to build a contact list and
share general information pertinent to many
• Podcasts are simple to produce and especially
effective for students who spend copious
amounts of time on their computers or with
McApple College
their iPods
Think different.
Channels of Communication
• Some examples of innovation in the way
student services communicate include:
– Residential life podcasts of deadlines, events,
and recognition
– Orientation blogs featuring the viewpoints of
current freshmen
– Instant message accounts for student
government officers to receive student ideas
and feedback
– Text message advertisements and
notifications for student programs
or services
McApple College
Think different.
Knowledge Sharing
• Knowledge sharing includes the use of
new technology to enhance the
exchange of information and
resources between professionals in a
given field
• In student affairs knowledge sharing is
essential for the formation of best
practices
McApple College
Think different.
Knowledge Sharing
• Knowledge sharing has always taken place
in student affairs via conferences, papers
and publications
• Technological innovations have made
access to professional knowledge and
student affairs best practices immediate
and widespread
• Professional associations in various student
affairs disciplines (NASPA, ACPA, etc.) lead
the collection and dissemination of
information
• Individual institutions collect and share
information on an ad hoc basis
McApple College
Think different.
Knowledge Sharing
Various technology has radically changed
knowledge sharing. It now takes place via:
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Email listservs
Webinars
StudentAffairs.com
Online Surveys
Searchable article databases
Online meetings
Electronic publications
Websites dedicated to the latest information in
higher education (including daily update
emails) like chronicle.com or
insidehighered.com
McApple College
Think different.
Technology’s Impact on
Students
• Lloyd, Dean & Cooper (2007) concluded
that students can benefit and suffer from
using technology
– Positive effects of technology knowledge
acquisition, socialization and entertainment
– Negative effects include that students tend
to be less healthy when their sole purpose is
for entertainment, which has a "direct effect
on their academic success, personal
relationships, and wellness"
McApple College
Think different.
Technology’s Impact on
Students
• Technology is accessible to students
and makes them feel comfortable
• Students can connect with others
before they arrive on campus to ease
their transition to campus
• Campus services are more available
to students and have published
information in a format that students
are comfortable with
McApple College
Think different.
Technology’s Impact on Students:
Chickering’s Identity Development
• Social networking presents students
with opportunities to develop integrity
(i.e. making appropriate choices
regarding information posted on
Facebook)
• Collecting information from online
resources and making decisions based
in that information helps students
develop competence
McApple College
Think different.
Technology’s Impact on Students:
Astin’s Involvement
• Alexander Astin: “The effectiveness of
any educational policy or practice is
directly related to the capacity of that
policy or practice to increase student
involvement.”
• Students today are more involved with
technology than every before.
Student Affairs must capitalize on
technology as an educational
opportunity
McApple College
Think different.
Technology’s Impact on Students:
Perry’s Theory of Intellectual and
Ethical Development
• Perry’s relativism describes the idea
that people make value judgments
and examine sources for accuracy
and comparative worth
• The variety of resources available on
the internet causes students to
evaluate the multiple sources of
information and determine
relative value
McApple College
Think different.
Recommendations
• Establish and maintain accurate email
listservs for division, departments and units
• Analyze administrative efficiency of IT
department and consider software solutions
• Design staff training to maximize
competence in already existing software
systems
• Take advantage of free knowledge
sharing resources—subscribe to email lists,
participate in webinars, etc.
McApple College
Think different.
Recommendations
• Consistent and continuous assessment of programs
• Ensure appropriate and sufficient technological training
opportunities
• Intentionally focus on programs and interventions to
meet student needs
• Remain engaged with other student affairs professionals
and utilize communication and knowledge sharing
mechanisms to share your resources and to enhance
the services you provide
• Be aware of the possibilities that exist with technology
and understand that it is constantly evolving—
we can not afford to be stagnant
McApple College
Think different.
References
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297-308.
A Vision of Students Today (2006). Kansas State University.
Barratt, W., Hendrickson, M., Stephens, A., & Torres, J. (2005). Thefacebook.com: Computer mediated social networking. Student
Affairs Online, 6(1).
Chickering, A. W., & Reisser, L. (1993). Education and Identity (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Coleman, J. K., Little, S.D., & Lester, A. ( 2006). Connecting services to students: New technology and implications for student affairs.
College Student Affairs Journal, 25(2), 220-227.
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Jossey-Bass.
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