The Times is reporting comments from a university vice-chancellor suggesting email is “as good as dead” on campus and that universities are having to employ teams to communicate via social media as most students no longer check their emails regularly…
Professor Sir Steve Smith, the vice-chancellor of Exeter University, said: “There is no point in emailing students any more. They get in touch with us by social media, especially Twitter, and we’ve had to employ people to reply that way.
“We have a round-the-clock team of press officers and graduates savvy with social media.
“Students will tweet for help if something has gone wrong, or a prospective student will tweet a question about the requirements for a course and expect an immediate response.”
Questions sent by social media to the university reflect the “paying customer” culture that has come with fees of £9,000 a year. One student voiced concerns that an exam timetable would be published later than expected. The university tweeted back that it would look into the issue.
Another wrote about fears that she did not feel part of the university and was put in touch with a support network, while a sixth former used Twitter to ask if an open day was full.
Others complained about the university’s computer server or utilities in the halls of residence.
Exeter now has an on-call, out-of-hours rota for social media among its press and digital marketing team, and also employs a person who troubleshoots problems during office hours…
More at: Email is dead for class of 2014, say universities (subscription required)
Is this having an impact in schools too or does the daily face-to-face contact make it much less of an issue? How is twitter being used in your/your child’s school? Please share your insights and experiences in the comments or via Twitter…
SchoolsImprove I can believe it. Even in 2012 when I graduated, everyone was using FB, hardly anyone checked their emails.
I can believe it.
Pen63 I wonder how Twitter and Facebook use fit into the “career ready” paradigm. Is management going to begin DMing us critical info?
MeglioMedia It really is. Using moodle for blended learning and flipped class has challenges given they don’t check the email reminders.
redbeardjohnson It totally should be in there – I know I’m excited about the possibilities in Canvas for that option with our students.
lenessakeehn It is on life-support with LDHS students, I am not sure how many check their email anymore.
Dunlop_Sue I think that’s overstating it. Email is less useful than it was, but it has a place in “private” communication. BeuckelareNic
bgrasley Dunlop_Sue just as postal mail is still necessary! However, my gr 12 students admit to never checking email either
Jamiedyer89 SchoolsImprove Though now the under 16s don’t used FB much. Too many old people on it 🙂
BeuckelareNic They could set up notifications on their phones so they don’t have to check 😉 Dunlop_Sue
bgrasley Dunlop_Sue makes me wonder what the next form of private communication could be? It wasn’t long ago email wasn’t mainstream!
BeuckelareNic I used Twitter DMs when I need a quick response from certain people. Or texts, if I know their phone number. Dunlop_Sue
bgrasley Dunlop_Sue how will important personal information be shared? Thinking post secondary acceptance etc.
bgrasley Dunlop_Sue problem is email is needed for everything. They let the inbox pile up to the thousands!
BeuckelareNic Dunlop_Sue We should stop emailing things that should be posted via social media. I’m tired of emails containing public info
bgrasley Dunlop_Sue totally agree! Less spam just as we have moved away from less junk mail in our postal mail!
If you begin to appease the students, indulging in a conversion to Social Media, then the situation will only get worse. A student will learn to check their email if he/she is failing for not getting the information required for the course.
I understand that this may create extra jobs for those who are tech savvy, and you have to move with the times. But it’s teaching future graduates that tardiness is rewarded.
Social life and education/work should be kept separate so that we aren’t entirely replaced by machines in 50 years.
SchoolsImprove Declarations of the ‘death’ of things are wrong so often it could almost count as evidence that it’s very much alive.
Agreed!”bgrasley: BeuckelareNic We should stop emailing things that should be posted via social media. No emails containing public info”
BeuckelareNic bgrasley I have to say that I am not fan of email, especially for business and public info. Much prefer other social media
msfrenchteach That’s why I used Remind 101 this year, texting my students worked really well!
tjjteacher We use a mix of email, Facebook and discussion boards (Blackboard) multiple tools rather than one, emails vgood for attachments
msfrenchteach they’re going to be in for a rude awakening when they apply for jobs
VanessaSpallone That’s great! I’ve thought about it, and might use it, but we’re 1:1 iPads, so they’re obligated to check mail. #hmm
SimonLeTocq SchoolsImprove this is so true. Our students prefer twitter to email!
louisemisselke but facebook also unpopular now with teens – preference for mobile apps such as snapchat etc
Bgilbert51 So true for my students too! But I don’t think twitter is the answer, I wouldn’t use a social medium to get in touch with them
gentlelaura many teachers create twitter accounts & have kids follow them to see assignments or good reading ideas, reminders etc.