In the quest to perfect our study abroad blog pilot - which seems to be going very well these days - I’ve been reaching out to several universities that are doing a fantastic job with their student blogging projects. Most all of these blogs would be classified as “admissions blogs” and give the reader an insider perspective about what it’s like to be a student on their university programs - whether it’s a student attending math classes on home campus, or spending a semester studying in Spain. The content is engaging, the design fantastic, and it’s clear that these universities have a strong handle on producing strong, reliable, and authentic content.
Giving up some of the university’s control of content and decentralizing it to students is an intimidating prospect for most organizations, yet the content created in these venues can be the most compelling for perspective students. As I’ve said before, it’s a fine line to walk between being too controlling and encouraging bloggers to user their own voice. Here are some of the tips in my running list of good techniques to employ when setting up a student blog: Continue reading ‘Reaching out: University lessons-learned from student blogging’
Ed sent me an email over the weekend to let me know that our panel, “Pimp My Non-profit – Real Non-Profits Kicking Ass with Online Technology”, made the initial list of finalists for the SXSW Interactive Festival this coming March. Yay! This is especially exciting for me because my non-profit organization is in the midst of a huge re-branding and web redesign process, which we’ll have just launched on February 1, 2008. The experience will most definitely provide great fodder for conversation and good examples to share with the non-profit community. I’m hoping this excitement will keep me from getting nervous. That and the margaritas I’ll have to start sipping as soon as I get to Austin :o).
The description was posted on my blog previously, but I’m happy to share it again and encourage non-profits to attend this year’s conference:
“Non profit groups struggle with funding and public support issues on a daily basis. Yet many have overcome the odds and made a splash online and offline by using the latest Web technologies — for pennies on the dollar. This discussion will center around the stories, strategies, triumphs and challenges of innovative non profits with a passion for change and the cajones to rock it out online. “
If you’re a 2008 SXSW goer, I hope you join us!
And I’m not saying that because I spend a good chunk of my day trying to understanding the nuances of the changing web 2.0 environment or how people are harnessing the power of the net in fun and creative ways. I’m also not saying that to defend my professionalism or my age - which despite my youthful looks - is pushing up against the 30-something mark. Whether I’m presenting on this type of information in the workplace, or responding to lectures or presentations about web 2.0, oftentimes I get skeptical looks when I share what I feel to be the power of these interactive and community-driven tools. But then these skeptics give me a once-over, do a double-take, and then they have their “Ah Ha” moment. Silly girl. She only finds these tools exciting because she’s just a kid!
I spend time using these tools NOT because I’m young, but because it’s part of my job. Maybe I just happen to be well-educated in the work that I do and I consider it imperative to know what’s out there and at least be semi-versed in it. Would you believe a year ago when I was living in Kenya I had little to nothing to do with these sites? I determined last fall that this was the kind of career I wanted and therefore I needed to go about learning the industry. And I did.
Continue reading ‘Web 2.0 - it’s not just for kids’
