Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Computer and Information Science

Date of Award

5-2011

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Anthony D. Pittarese

Committee Members

Edith Seier, Jessica Keup, Sally S. Lee

Abstract

Social applications such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter have driven the public growth of Web 2.0. Universities and colleges are using social media to reach student prospects, keep contact with current students and alumni, and provide a mechanism for group collaboration and interaction in the classroom. Higher education institutions are influenced by current social media trends, and figuring out how to effectively interact with various constituencies within the social media environment can be challenging.

In this study, a group of higher education students were surveyed about their social media practices and preferences with a focus on education-related activities. The goal of the research was to determine what aspects of social media use were most effective in reaching the student constituency based on social media usage patterns. The results led to significant observations that aid in the development of social media tactics to reach university and college students.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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