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eCitizenship in the 21 st Century University: Planning and Implementation AASCU eCitizenship Initiative Workshop 4 November 2010. Rich Halstead- Nussloch & Zvi Szafran Southern Polytechnic State University rhalstea@spsu.edu ; zszafran@spsu.edu http://cse.spsu.edu/rhalstea/eCit/.
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eCitizenship in the 21st Century University:Planning and ImplementationAASCU eCitizenship Initiative Workshop4 November 2010 Rich Halstead-Nussloch & ZviSzafran Southern Polytechnic State University rhalstea@spsu.edu;zszafran@spsu.edu http://cse.spsu.edu/rhalstea/eCit/
The opinions expressed here are those of each of the participants individually and do not necessarily represent those of Southern Polytechnic State University or the other participants. Disclaimer
Introduction • Rich and Zvi- Your Workshop Presenters • SPSU • SPSU eCitizenship Initiative • Website: http://cse.spsu.edu/rhalstea/eCit/ • Templates and Checklists • Round Robin • Name • Role and university • Goal for you in this workshop
Rich and Zvi- Your Workshop Presenters • Rich Halstead-Nussloch • Professor of Information Technology at SPSU • Campus Coordinator- eCitizenship Initiative • First electronic education gizmo- Developed PAVCO Instructional Computer Simulation 1969 • Half career in university; Other half in industry • ZviSzafran • Vice President of Academic Affairs at SPSU • Campus Champion/Sponsor- eCitizenship Initiative
Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) www.spsu.edu • Georgia’s Technology University • Marietta, Georgia 30060 • Part of the University System of Georgia • Comprehensive University with Baccalaureate and Master degrees for 5300 students (700 grad) • From our vision: Through a fusion of technology with the liberal arts and sciences, we create a learning community that encourages thoughtful inquiry, diverse perspectives, and strong preparation of our graduates to be leaders in an increasingly technological world. • SPSU has a strong applied nature that made our eCitizenship Initiative the way it is.
SPSU Mission • Serve both traditional and non-traditional students - undergraduate, graduate and continuing education • Award degrees in engineering and engineering technology, the sciences, applied liberal arts, business and professional programs • Work to develop the broader community’s intellectual, cultural, economic, and human resources. • Provide a learning community that facilitated by our innovative faculty, dedicated staff, and supportive campus environment, empowers SPSU students with the ability and vision to transform the future.
SPSU eCitizenship Initiative Vision- Create a learning community that… • Encourages thoughtful inquiry, diverse perspectives • Provides strong preparation of its member to be engaged citizens in an increasingly technological world • Supports all our citizens to aspire to be the best in the world at • finding creative, practical, and sustainable solutions to real-world problems • improving the quality of life everywhere • Harnesses a creative fusion of technology with the liberal arts and sciences
SPSU eCitizenship Initiative Mission- Work to serve our community… • To bridge between the • Student body and • Our broader community of citizens • To develop and enhance intellectual, cultural, economic, and human resources towards a learning community that empowers its citizens with the ability and vision to positively transform the future
We Started with: What Did Not WorkWe Quickly Changed to: What Worked Tried, but Did Not Work What Worked Focus on everyday activities Use multiple projects Leverage eCitizenship into existing budget Meet community at current level to move up together Guide action positively Work with / follow students • Create grand initiative • Do as single project • Carve “eCitizenship” pieces from funding pie • Pull community to “higher” level of citizenship • Control activity • Lead students
Templates and Checklists on Website: http://cse.spsu.edu/rhalstea/eCit/ Templates (all rtf files) Checklists (all rtf files) Funding and Campus Activity Checklist Coordination and Governance Checklist • Charter • SPSU Charter
Round Robin Introductions • Name • Role and university • Your goal in this workshop
Preview Questions • Do you have sufficient funding to launch an independent campus eCitizenship Initiative? • Will you see resistance or support by embedding citizenship into ongoing activities? • Which of your existing and funded campus activities are well positioned to leverage citizenship within your campus community? • Will you see efficiency by using electronic media for the citizenship?
ZviSzafran’s Overview of eCitizenship at SPSU (Click link to view video) • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/ZviOpeningP.wmv
SPSU Answers to Preview Questions • Do you have sufficient funding to launch an independent campus eCitizenship Initiative? No • Will you see resistance or support by embedding citizenship into ongoing activities? Support. • Which of your existing and funded campus activities are will positioned to leverage citizenship within your campus community? On checklist. • Will you see efficiency by using electronic media for the citizenship? Yes.
Categories of Everyday eCitizenship Activities Leveraged at SPSU • Online Communications • Faculty meetings • Inter-USG meetings • Campus committees • Minutes • Meetings via Vista • Weekly VPAA BLOG • Campus newsletter • Speaker Series Online • Ms. Jen Pahlka, Code for America- “Citizen Internet” • Dr. MuhammedYunus, Nobel Laureate- “Social Businesses” • Student Engagement • Use OrgSync to create online community for students and alums • Student government uses Facebook to facilitate student involvement in community • Community Outreach • SPSU eGov Center supports state and local government • SPSU is hosting 2011 National Conference of Polytechnics • SPSU is originating online journal of polytechnic studies
Q&A Discussion and Lessons Learned • Do you have sufficient funding to launch an independent campus eCitizenship Initiative? • Will you see resistance or support by embedding citizenship into ongoing activities? • Which of your existing and funded campus activities are will positioned to leverage citizenship within your campus community? • Will you see efficiency by using electronic media for the citizenship?
Preview Questions • What activities do you have on your campus that engage students • With the campus? • With each other? • With the community at large? • Which of these activities • Involve the rights, responsibilities or conduct of being a citizen of your campus community? • Are enabled or enhanced by electronic means and therefore amenable to eCitizenship?
Video- Student Government Communication/Action via Facebook • VPAA ZviSzafran and Andy Coen, Past President of SPSU Student Government • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/FromAndytoZviP.wmv
Q&A Discussion and Lessons Learned • What was the most surprising discovery that Andy made? • Once in motion, you can lose control • Today, eCitizenship might not be the best way, but it is the only way • The “lobbyist handbook” • Where was the “tipping point” in this eCitizenship? • Appearing at the SPSU rally • Appearing on TV • When the Facebook page took off • Appearing at the Atlanta rally at the Georgia State Capitol • Phone and email campaign by students and parents
Video- Student/Alum Comments on eCitizenship • Ben Johnson, recent MSIT graduate from SPSU • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/Ben01P.wmv
Q&A Discussion and Lessons Learned • What was the most surprising or important discovery that Ben made? • There are many inexpensive or free tools available for eCitizenship • Today, eCitizenship might be the update to Woody Allen’s statement that 80% of success is showing up • Where was the “tipping point” in this eCitizenship for Ben? • Appearing at the SPSU rally • Appearing on TV • When the Facebook page took off • Appearing at the Atlanta rally at the Georgia State Capitol
Video- Students Set Up and Operate Organizations via Social Media • Ron Lunk of SPSU Student Affairs Office • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/LunkP.wmv • Learn about OrgSync at www.orgsync.com
SPSU Answers to Preview Questions • What activities do you have on your campus that engage students in eCitizenship • With the campus? OrgSync organizations • With each other? Facebook <-> OrgSync • With the community at large? Facebook • Which of these activities • Involve the rights, responsibilities or conduct of being a citizen of your campus community? Organization is established first, then put on OrgSync • Are enabled or enhanced by electronic means and therefore amenable to eCitizenship? OrgSync provides two-way portal between student organization and SPSU
Guidelines We Established After Our eCitizenship Experience with Students • Look first for citizenship opportunities, regarding citizenship broadly • Once opportunity is identified as citizenship, then apply electronic means • Utilize existing, everyday activities to • Leverage budgets • Instill a sense of everyday community in eCitizens • Meet eCitizens at their current level of engagement to better initiate change
Electronic Citizenship Enables Innovation within the Community • Students can have ideas and implement them using largely their own resources • Faculty, staff and administration can facilitate those ideas and their implementation through • Creating a supportive environment • Providing guidance • Adding energy, time, resources and expertise • Showing professionalism and balance • Students have great ideas but do not realize difficulties of implementation, creating “learning moments.”
Video- Students Found Organization to Do Development Projects • Maurice Lemons, SPSU student and Ron Lunk of SPSU Student Affairs Office • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/LunkLemonsP.wmv
Q&A Discussion and Lessons Learned • What is the most surprising discovery that awaits Maurice? • Which side of this see-saw? • Social entrepreneurship is more difficult than anticipated • Social entrepreneurship is easier than anticipated • Getting funding for the scholarships will go differently than anticipated • He can remain true to his idea of an entrepreneurial student organization if he is flexible in its implementation • Where is the eCitizenship in this case?
Guidelines We Established After Our eCitizenship Synergistic Experiences • Rely on “word-of-mouth” and “viral” communication in eCitizenship. • Create a context and environment for citizenship; students will take care of the rest. • Job 1 of the faculty, staff and administration: Handle the citizen engagement process to steer it towards the positive and professional. • Job 1 of students: Handle the citizenship. • Primary efforts for eCitizenship need to involve students for they are keys to success.
Video- Finding Balance in Using Social Media • Jim Cooper of SPSU Strategic Planning and Sustainability Office • Click the link below to view video on Windows Media Player • http://media.spsu.edu/asxgen/rhalstea/eCit/JimCooperP.wmv
Issues and Opportunities in Governance • Privacy and secure control are very different in eCitizenship: • Andy mentioned losing control at the rally • Once something is on Facebook, it seemingly “takes on a life of its own.” • Everyone (including students and faculty) make and shape media and the messages • It is very easy to combine and forward information • More transparency and greater civic involvement also means less control
Issues and Opportunities in Governance (cont.) • Electronic communications have changed the classroom • Electronic fraud and plagiarism leaves us leery • Support of online classes supports eCitizenship • “Live” courses have online supplement • Many tools for online, global conversations • Supports the “participatory culture” and active learning • Conversion to electronic services for student evaluations, faculty reports, communications, budgeting, etc.
Initial Evaluation- Very Simple • Since we are developing our eCitizenship Initiative, our current evaluation methodology focuses on formative measures , i.e., what works of what we try • We are looking for evidence of effective citizenship • Rights and responsibilities of being in the SPSU community? • Positive citizen conduct? • We are looking for use of electronic means in effective citizenship, i.e., what works • We are counting these events, e.g., 8000 Facebook, 600 students etc. • We plan an expanded, more thorough evaluation
Guidelines We Established Upon Reflecting on eCitizenship Governance • Maintain integrity and leadership in eCitizenship through: • Fiduciary and responsibility accountability • Ethical and professional actions and guidance • Realize that significant control is given up to the “social media swarm” in eCitizenship. • Link any initiative to the core vision, mission and goals. • Smooth and fill the transitions and gaps in all educational cycles, with special focus on the application to alum cycle. • Manage eCitizenship and social media by being consultative and using guidelines and professional standards. • Be nimble, balanced and aim for continuous improvement. • Primary efforts for eCitizenship need to involve students .