It's so interesting to consider the different definitions of social media and the impact that adding a few words or a clause can have on ones perspective of both what the tool is, but also how it can be used. For myself, I simply said that it was a tool that allowed people to share with others, usually around a common interest. Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) agree with my simple definition, defining it as a group of internet applications that build on the idea of Web 2.0 and allow the sharing of content. Boyd and Ellison (2008) add an important piece - the construction of a profile within the system. It hadn't occurred to me how important he profile piece was to a social media application. As I reflect upon the addition of this part, I see now that it really is what makes Facebook different than a mass chat room or group forums, both of which existed long before 'social media' became defined and studied.
In terms of the educational context, Kietzmann, Hermkens, McCarthy & Silvestre (2011) raise the important point that social media "consists of people who are connected by a shared object" (p. 245). This is exactly what we are hoping to promote within the classroom - a shared object, and the experience that goes along in creating it, between students. I think social media raises important considerations with respect to how we construct our assignments and the importance of creating these shared objects that, almost by definition, are meaningful for students.
References
boyd, d. m., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! the challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., & Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social media? get serious! understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Business Horizons; SPECIAL ISSUE: SOCIAL MEDIA, 54(3), 241-251. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.005
In terms of the educational context, Kietzmann, Hermkens, McCarthy & Silvestre (2011) raise the important point that social media "consists of people who are connected by a shared object" (p. 245). This is exactly what we are hoping to promote within the classroom - a shared object, and the experience that goes along in creating it, between students. I think social media raises important considerations with respect to how we construct our assignments and the importance of creating these shared objects that, almost by definition, are meaningful for students.
References
boyd, d. m., & Ellison, N. B. (2007). Social network sites: Definition, history, and scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), 210-230. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! the challenges and opportunities of social media. Business Horizons, 53(1), 59-68. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2009.09.003
Kietzmann, J. H., Hermkens, K., McCarthy, I. P., & Silvestre, B. S. (2011). Social media? get serious! understanding the functional building blocks of social media. Business Horizons; SPECIAL ISSUE: SOCIAL MEDIA, 54(3), 241-251. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2011.01.005