UW Chancellor Tweets!
Nov 8th, 2009 | By Gene A. Wright | Category: General, Information Technology, InnovationThanks Hugh
JS Online published an article that declares that the UW Madison Chancellor – Biddy Martin Tweets she is also a Yankee (and Brewers fan) are those two things compatible?
The article talks about other university administrators that Tweet. Chancellor Martin says that tweeting and following tweets is a way to keep up with what is going on.
I expect that as we experience more about Twitter and other similar technologies, we will develop lots of good uses for it rather than the waste of time some think it to be.
What do you think?
I think it will pick up. As the Web 2.0 idea keep enhancing, more business and organizations will use Twitter and Facebook to keep their “fans” in the loop on what is going on. I have to admit – I signed up for Twitter, looked at it and canceled my account. Maybe it is because I don’t mind checking websites, and personally I don’t have enough people that would pay attention to me “tweets” – but I am sure organizations will re-evaluate using social networking sites to make announcements versus paying for the extra expense of having someone man their announcements on their website.
I personally see nothing wrong with highly recognized officials using Twitter. You see the debate all over the place, with celebreties, sports players, and CEO/Officials of companies debating whether or not to use Twitter. I see nothing wrong with it, it’s another quick, real-time information sharing avenue. I feel the preconceived notions of Twitter should be washed away, and more people realize the potential it has.
I think it’s wonderful when execs, deans, etc. start to interact with people on twitter because then they are coming down to a personal level with people they normally wouldn’t associate with. You even see this with celebrities just interacting with fans like a normal conversation. I’m not a fan of Twitter myself, but the way it somehow brings people together in 140 characters or less is wonderful.
Web 2.0 seems like a great way for a Chancelor to “get the word” out to potential students and recent alums who will soon be called upon for finacial support of the institution. Twitter and other 2.0 tools are major modes of communication with this demographic group and it would not be prudent to ingnore the media.
Great idea! I think we need more ‘professional’ people to use Web 2.0 tools like Twitter, Facebook, Etc. I have always been a fan of this stuff and think its a great technology, but I also believe it was really never used for the ‘right’ purpose. Hopefully this can catch on and influence the way people use these social networking tools; til then, I will not use any of these social networking tools expect for ‘professional’ sites such as LinkedIn, but I might even stop using that since they teamed up with Twitter.
It is good to see more professionals trying to find productive uses for the technology. I have not been a user of Facebook and Twitter but will reconsider as the technology improves.
I agree. I think Twitter/Facebook updates are a great way to target the college student demographic. We are hit with information without searching for it. It’s kind of necessary as many students dont’ actively seek the content.
Also, it gives us the ability to subscribe or block the information at our own will. Not like advertisements.
I keep wondering what all the people who read these tweets could be doing as an alternative. It seems that people are spending a lot of time “connecting” with people they don’t even know. This is likely taking away from actually interaction with people in person. By allowing one-sided virtual interaction, we are limiting two sided conversation.
I do like to see more powerfull people actualy know or use technology to reach out to people. social networks recently have became so popular that if someone like UW chancellore is not on it we should wonder. this way the chancellor is more informed any it’s easier for the students to contact him and know him more.
Tools such as Twitter are a great way for the actual people to control the message as opposed to older media where you have to rely on a series of delayed sources to get the message. Tweets and even YouTube videos are a great way to have an authoritative figure put their message out and associate a much more personal side that most people didn’t have the chance to see before.
What better way to get information updates to college students than through Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks. Tweeting is a great way to use communication tools that are already out there and heavily used by college students. People may think differently of social networking once it becomes used more by authority figures, not for social reasons, but to interact and keep in touch with students. I think this is an interesting way for chancellors and maybe even professors to network with the student body.
Because college students are so engaged with social networking sites, I think that it is a great idea that the UW Chancellor tweets. It is a great way to address your students about important issues around the campus, community, or even just thoughts that you have. It also brings them down to more of a personal level with the Chancellor and it is great that they are utilizing this technology to impact students!
Personally, I think blogs are a lot more professional than a twitter page. A 140 character limit is very small to get a lot of information out there. So hopefully the chancellor uses her twitter page for personal use instead of news.
I think that the way she is using Twitter is very worth while. I am sure she’s not posting things like “I’m on my way to UW, boy is it cold.” She seems to be using it in a very affective way and I think that is what it should be used for. Also, it is nice to see some of the older intelligent generation experimenting with new technology. If she wants to get a message across to students then this might just be the way.
I originally thought twitter was a waste of time but with more and more business people using it I find it a lot more useful. I think the leader of a company should present themselves in a public light with the use of some a blog or twitter. A good way to seem more personable and put a name with a “face”.