Digital Identity and Student Empowerment in a Changing Landscape MIKHAIL A. VALENTIN, 2014 FACULTY OF THE FUTURE CONFERENCE, BUCKS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Web 2.0 and Social Media  Features of Web 2.0 – dialogue and the creation of user-generated content within a virtual community.  Social Media is described as “a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0…” (Kaplan & Haenlein)  Popular platforms:  Twitter  Facebook  Tumblr  Linked In

A Changing Landscape  Dropping retention rates.  Students transferring 2-3 times over the course of their academic careers.  “Increasing Differentiation of Higher Education”  Distance & eLearning  iTunes U  MOOCs  Changing of the “Traditional” Student  Universal Access to Information

Our Students  The Changing “Traditional” Student  More than sixty percent of our students are over 25 and…  Over sixty percent are working full-time while pursuing a degree.  Majority having access to:  The Internet  Smartphones  Social Media

A “Connected” World  Social Media has become a dominant platform for communication:  Facebook  Twitter  Tumblr  Ability to connect with large audiences.  Most of these connections are superficial.

Media Literacy in a Digital Age  Media literacy has changed.  Digital Literacy  Adaptability

In the Classroom  Most students have smartphones.  Many deeply invested in social media.  Most are not using social media intentionally or responsibly.

A Case Study  Capstone course for Studio Art majors.  Art & Design Seminar – Designed to build a portfolio.  ePortfolio is central.

Art & Competency  Portfolio demonstrates:  Problem Solving  Aesthetic Sensibility  Marketability

What Was Missing?  Students saw the ePortfolio as an isolated project.  Did not understand the concept of digital footprints.  Needed help with speaking to an audience.

Solution  Use open platforms for publishing and communication between students.  Design activities and prompts that help them better understand audience.  Build on their media literacy by making them use multiple platforms.  Emphasize “digital file keeping” as a primary virtue of staying connected to ones work and experience. (self-curation)

The Result  Real life examples.