School of Social Media
I love thinking back to a time where computers weren't dominating our daily lives. A somber time when companies and businesses succeeded through their own grit and fortitude. I find solace in knowing that there are people who walk this earth that can recant writing on paper and typing on typewriters.
But things have changed. Businesses have evolved. And with the acceptance of social media into the everyday arsenal of companies across the globe, a new frontier has opened. I'm talking about colleges offering class in social media.
I have long been a proponent for the separation of education and professional endeavors (seriously, go to college to study something cool, don't just go for a 4 year career preparation plan). Nonetheless, people continue to put faith and stock into social media, riding its curtails into the next decade.
And on that, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College is starting a program to teach students how to leverage social media for business success. The concept will center around where to start, best practices, and of course, how to get the most out of your social media campaign. It is all about strategic building and execution.
Obviously, the course load will be very beneficial to those looking to increase their knowledge and ability in the business related social media realm. But I can't help but feel that we are overlooking the obvious. Social media continues to evolve, and creating college credits and courses around our current understanding and acceptance of social media just seems silly. Doesn't it?
Chime in here folks. I'm torn on the subject. In college, I had a coach who told me that in 1999 he took a class titled "Technology in the Classroom". It consisted of loading a film projector, creating xeroxes, and using a transparencies to teach classroom lessons. Obviously, all of those were outdated very quickly. My point is: that was only 11 years ago!
Should colleges really be teaching social media? Is it a fad, or the wave of the future? How will it change next?
There are so many advances that are rolling out even as we speak. With Facebook bringing about a myriad of new products including new messaging system, new groups, questions, and places, would it have been worth it to take a social media class last year?
Maybe it is my youth talking, as I have been using these tools for a number of years now. But it seems that teaching a class on the subject is akin to teaching a class on talking on the phone. It is so second nature to so many people, and so susceptible to evolving over night, that trying to tame the beast just seems like bad practice. But maybe as a society we need a unified, educated front to understand and utilize these tools. But, maybe not.
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Justin DiSandro joined SocialTechPop at its inception in 2010. He has been integral in growing the blog by working closely with the technology and the pop culture community. His sarcastic wit and charm has earned him numerous writing awards and accolades, and his absurd knowledge of all things "pop" has earned him recognition throughout the entertainment industry. His writings have appeared in countless magazines, literary journals, and documentaries, as well as being quoted by a variety of scholarly studies and film fests.