Future Promos for Class Blogs
After the last orientation, I have a definite impression of polar sympathies from SHU students on blogging. Those that love it--love it forever, those that hate it--always will, and those that are in the middle, well, they'll blog, but will villify it in public and will downplay their own role in the blogosphere.
The 2008 blog has had minimal freshman-to-freshman success, and I don't know if it is because of those promoting it (the term "bloginator" does denote a psychotic tendency) or if we haven't given it enough press within the orientation sessions. I think the latter.
This year, we tried to tell our groups what blogging is in a five minute span during the introductions/icebreaker period, but not every group had a leader familiar with blogging. The handout did help, but the newbies die under the paperwork they give on the first day; why would they want to figure out something else?
As I commented, we need a session devoted to blogging next year. With a hands-on introduction in a computer lab, the students may become more comfortable coming back to the site and posting. I do understand their insecurities; blogging is a big step--you reveal much about yourself, sometimes with the smallest phrase, but we need to let them know that blogging is not evil. We would not even have to make it an hour long like some of the other sessions--five minutes of a well-organized speech and ten minutes of log-on would be sufficient for the freshmen to get a better grasp on what blogging is.
As for past orientations and blogging press, it really hasn't been pretty. I don't want people to lie and say that they love it, but I would ask that they cast blogging in a positive light, despite their own inhibitions about the software/community/style that blogging entails. As OAs we are required to display this type of behavior, and as such, we should do it for everything that Seton Hill offers--including the blogging community.
The Class of 2008 blog can offer a positive environment for those who are really trying to meet people; I hope we don't let our personal biases interfere with great opportunities for others.
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Well put Amanda.
The intent of the class blog is not only to "make friends," primarily with one's classmates, but also introduce the freshmen to Seton Hill through the content posted.
However, even if your worst-case scenario: comments denoting stalker-like behavior would appear on the class blog, I believe they would be deleted.
We want to foster an environment that can accept anyone--even 27 year-old gay Russian sailors who write techno music in their spare time; however, we also want to keep a standard that makes expressing one's ideas online a worthwhile and safe experience.
If the incoming freshmen can't handle making friends without the use of emoticons they probably shouldn't have any friends to begin with.
Oh yeah, and for anyone whose reading this and wants "to be friends," I'm a 27 year old gay Russian sailor who writes techno music in his spare time. Wow, making friends on the internet is a great idea. I'm sure those kids who got tricked and kidnapped or killed by their internet "friends" would agree completely.
Why thank you Amanda! I appriciate the compliment.
Don't forget Tiffany; she has been one of the best cheerleaders I have ever seen.
Hey Amanda, even though I wasn't there to see how you guys promoted blogging at the orientations, I really think you and Karissa have done a really great job promoting on-line. Maybe stuff will happen once we head back to school.
How about gathering a few seasoned bloggers and conducting a brainstorming session with regards to the pros and cons of blogging? A blogging info session could be tailored depending on the data collected. Just a thought.
"promotion of the coolest thing since sliced bread"-DGJerz
I said something of that extent on Amanda's blog, too. Maybe that middle crowd could be swayed a bit more, eh? Something to consider for next year :^)
You're right, Amanda, that some people absolutely love blogs; many think it's OK but nothing special and occasionally read those peer blogs that interest them; while others will never like it.
The primary audience should probably be the people in the middle -- the ones who might be curious and might try it. Presenting it as "something to look at" rather than a "promotion of the coolest thing since sliced bread" might also create a different reaction.