To read this content please select one of the options below:

Chapter 16 Establishing Guidelines for the Use of Social Media in Higher Education

Misbehavior Online in Higher Education

ISBN: 978-1-78052-456-6, eISBN: 978-1-78052-457-3

Publication date: 27 January 2012

Abstract

Social media is increasingly used by institutions of higher education to connect with students, with the goal of establishing a link with students through technology that they are already using at a significant rate. However, guidelines and policies describing the institutions' strategy and expectations for the use of social media are being utilized at a much lower rate than the use of social media itself. This has the potential to reduce the effectiveness of social media by institutions of higher education, and to create a barrier in the use of social media before the benefits can even be fully realized. This chapter explores current research regarding existence of guidelines for the use of social media in higher education, details a number of current issues, which have resulted from the use of social media, and describes general guidelines, which can be used to help institutions avoid the issues that can result from the use of social media. The chapter describes specific sections that should be part of social media guidelines, defines who in the institution will be impacted by the guidelines, and provides examples of effective social media guidelines. Additionally, the chapter describes research that is needed to help administrators and educators understand the issues that can result from the use of social media by an institution and how to prevent issues from occurring through the use of appropriate guidelines, standards, and policies.

Citation

Lenartz, A.J. (2012), "Chapter 16 Establishing Guidelines for the Use of Social Media in Higher Education", Wankel, L.A. and Wankel, C. (Ed.) Misbehavior Online in Higher Education (Cutting-Edge Technologies in Higher Education, Vol. 5), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 333-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9968(2012)0000005018

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited