Research Paper

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Cover Page
Abstract
a. 200 or less words; synopsis of paper; gets its own page
Introduction and Purpose (1 pg)

Technology is an ever-growing and evolving facet of society that permeates into the world of higher
education. The effects of technology in education can be seen most apparently in computer-based
instruction, distance learning, and online courses. For many years, educators have studied the advantages
and disadvantages of incorporating these technologies into the traditional college setting. Regardless of
where one stands on the issue, technology has continued to influence the world of higher education more
and more throughout the years. If educators can begin to harness technology toward improvement of the
classroom setting, the field of higher education can change dramatically.
One budding aspect of technology that has yet to be fully embraced in higher education is social media.
Social media can be defined as a collection of Web sites, services, and activities that engage users
through collaboration, sharing, and democratization of roles and responsibilities (Junco & Chickering,
2010). Social media Web sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have taken our society by storm
and present a great deal of potential educational utility. While the possibility for social media to be
incorporated into college curriculum for the sake of academic learning seems promising, there are other
avenues through which social media can benefit community colleges.
Research studies have only recently begun to explore social media and the effects of its use in the
community college setting. However, most studies are in agreement that there are appropriate and
inappropriate uses of social media Websites in instruction and curriculum. Literature shows that the
majority of both students and faculty members use social media regularly, but not for educational
purposes. The aim of this review is to discover which methods of incorporating technology into the
classroom are most effective, and explore trends in experimental findings regarding ineffective or
unhelpful incorporation of social media into the classroom.
Of particular interest is the issue of student retention in community colleges. Unfortunately, community
colleges across the nation struggle with high dropout rates. There are a myriad of reasons that contribute
to the problem of low retention rates in community colleges, and finding a solution can be difficult.
However, the goal remains to facilitate student persistence and increase not only access, but also
accountability. One approach to promoting student success in community colleges is to strengthen the
bond between student and institution. The purpose of my literature review is to identify methods of using
technology and social media to strengthen the relationships community college students have with each
other, their faculty members, and their institutions. This will promote student success and help combat
high dropout rates.

a. Problem/opportunity; introduce topic; relevant background information

related to P/O

-We need better implementation of technology

-why
-what does research show about technology so far (briefly)
-How does this impact CCs
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b. Purpose of study; significance/value of this study/question for CCs

Literature Review (4-5 pgs)
a. READ LIT REVIEW CHAPTER
b. Justifying the research problem; documenting what is and is not known
about the topic; identifying the theory or conceptual framework behind
a study; providing models for the methods and procedures;
interpreting results
Themes in literature: technology is not going away; effects of social media
use in classroom are understudied; students and teachers alike admit to
using social media primarily for personal use instead of professional use;
interfaces such as blackboard..;
c. ORGANIZE AND PRESENT FINDINGS THEMATICALLY
Implications for Policy and Practice (1-2 pgs)
a. Implications for public policy and institutional practice
b. Applications of findings to strengthen CCs
Future Research and Conclusion ( 1 pg)
a. Unanswered questions; key points summary; tie it all together
References
In his 2001 article, "Teaching and Technologies for Human Development," Arthur W. Chickering
explains that there is a difference between instrumental training and developmental education. He
defines training as helping individuals acquire a common set of skills, etc. and education as
helping individuals develop increasingly complex perceptions, etc. Instrumental learning teaches
us a particular skill set and developmental learning strengthens us in broader competencies. If
current instructors had their way on our campus, we will miss out on opportunities to have
invaluable experiences that can only come from a creative, interactive education. Our professors
don't want us to get distracted from their lectures that can (and have) exceeded three hours in
length, but perhaps there is such a thing as an "educational distraction." If we were able to
collaborate with one another during lectures, or participate in social media discussions after
lecture, we may be more motivated to pay attention.
"...because the Web provides just information, not instruction or other support for learning, it is
completely incapable on its own of supporting knowledge construction, of providing a context for
learning, and of providing the kind of learning community that universities have always
nurtured." -William Winn, as cited by Junco & Chickering in 2010
Educators don't have to worry that they will be replaced by the Web. Instead, they can use the
Web to their advantage.
"Good learning is collaborative and social, not competitive and isolated. -Chickering &
Ehrmann, 2004
We need to step away from the traditional and accommodate our learning to the changing times.
One way we can do this is to realize the benefits to a new way of carrying out our goals as
educators.

XIII.In 2010, Facebook's 400 million active users spent over

500 billion minutes interacting with the site
each
month.
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Studies show that social media is only gaining popularity over time. Twitter's statistics in 2009
showed even more increase in monthly visitors than Facebook's. If we have this understanding of
social media in our culture, how can institutions of higher education continue to ignore it?

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XVI. 85% of face-to-face communication is

nonverbal, and when
verbal and nonverbal conflict, we believe the
nonverbal.
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As expressed here, it is important to remember that STUDENT NEED HELP in navigating online
communication. As educators, it is our duty to become familiar with social media ourselves and
find out the best it has to offer to the world of higher education.
Literature supports that technology and social media can be a good thing for higher education. One study
found that "using Twitter in educationally relevant ways in a first-year seminar course increased student
engagement and improved grades. (Junco & Chickering, 2010)
One concern is proper facilitation of the use of social media by students. Yes, we want to be Free to Tweet, but
educational leaders can help us tweet wisely. Some suggestions from Junco and Chickering include:

1. Make a formal institutional commitment to supporting institutional pluralism

2. Recognize the educational value of open sharing and examination of diverse views
3. Recognize that online forms of expression are as important to student development as

traditional oral and written expression

4. Emphasize the importance of respect and civility
5. Emphasize the critical need for valid information, solid evidence, and explicit

information about sources

6. Spell out expected positive behaviors and sanctions for negative actions
7. Require that personal identification be part of all communications and interactions
8. Designate a clear locus of responsibility for monitoring online communications and

interactions, and for strengthening the educational uses of these emerging communication
and interaction technologies

Rios-Aguilar, among others, speculate that colleges may have had fears related to introducing social media into
classrooms because they were afraid of losing control of their students, but social media can help a student to
connect to their institution (both academically and socially), which is a well-known factor promoting student
success.
We've talked about how technology and social media can be used in academic instruction, but what are the
other implications of incorporating technology into higher education?
The answer is increased student development.
The literature points to interactive, collaborative, technology-infused learning environments being ones where
students can develop their identities. Chickering proposes that, "interacting in this type of culture calls for high
levels of intellectual and emotional competence anchored in solid information and well-thought-out
perspectives." (Junco & Chickering, 2010).