This document discusses leveraging Web 2.0 technologies in higher education. It begins by explaining that Web 2.0 focuses on the web as a platform and emphasizes technologies that are extensible, use open standards, and blur the line between desktop and web. The document then provides some examples of how Web 2.0 could be used for system management, content enhancement and integration, and recruiting. Specifically, it describes how one university created a Facebook page that reached over 480 students with virtually no investment. Finally, the document encourages thinking creatively about how to utilize Web 2.0 technologies and features to create community and enhance content delivery and systems management.

1. Leveraging Web 2.0 in Higher
Education
John Cummings
University Portal Administrator
Marshall University
john.cummings@marshall.edu

2. What is Web 2.0 anyway?
It’s all about the web as a platform

3. Explaining it to my wife....

4. Tomato, tomatoe
• If it’s not branded Web 2.0, that doesn’t
really mean anything
• If it is branded Web 2.0, that doesn’t really
mean anything
Rather than focusing on the label, focus on the
technologies available to solve your problems

5. Some names you might recognize

6. And some you may not.....

7. Trending and the blurry line....

8. Common thread among “web as a
platform” apps and services
Extensible (APIs, web services)
“Generally” open standards based
Continued blurring of the desktop line

9. OK.....So What?

10. Application
Just a few quick ideas, and examples
• System Management/Administration
• Content enhancement, management, integration
• Recruiting

11. Recruiting
In 2007, it cost a four-year public University an average of
$398 per a set of eyes to get their message in front of
perspective students.
In May 2008, we launched our “Marshall University
Facebook” page. We did not advertise. We did not
spend any money on the page other than the time it took
to create it.

13. Of our total fans (actively taken action to “pair” their profile
with our page), 60% are in the “sweet spot” < 24yo.
481
Let’s conservatively assume that only 1/3 of those are
even considering Marshall as a possible school
160
Even with that conservative number, we’ve gotten a
$64,000 message out with essentially no investment

14. Web 2.0 enable current
students as evangelists
Marshall Recruitment Blog

15. Take the blog, and use it for CMS functionality
Think creatively about the technology you deploy, and
other ways that you can utilize its functionality
Features, crisis management, etc.

16. Content Enhancement
Easily enable video/screencasting to be added to
courseware (YouTube)
Create “community” in the classroom, via Twitter, Ning,
etc.
Build better content - think of the Syllabus example - Wiki
style, with student contribution (PBWiki, Google Sites, etc.)
Sharing mind-maps with Bubbl.us

17. Systems Management,
Monitoring

18. Taking content that already
exists, and “web enabling” it
Services like “Feedity” and Dapper.net

19. Want to go further?
Pipes (the Internet is, after all, a series of tubes)

20. QUESTIONS?