Higher Education Migrates to YouTube and Social Networks By Marilyn Gilroy to find a better way to collect From The Hispanic Outlook and highlight all the educational in Higher Education content already being uploaded to YouTube. Many colleges and uni- versities have previously posted RUE global enlightenment. videos on the site through their That's how YouTubeEDU is own channels; however, the new Tbeing promoted by compa- EDU page organizes the courses ny officials who have announced and programs in one place. the launch of a YouTube section Spencer Crooks, a spokesman devoted to academic content. for YouTube, says there are more Calling the new site "a free, self- than 200 lectures on topics includ- organizing, democratic website ing computer science, literature, containing all the world's knowl- biology, philosophy, history, po- edge," YouTubeEDU promises an litical science, and law. But tbere environment in which "any quali- are thousands of other videos fied teacher can contribute and uploaded by participating universi- absolutely anyone can learn." It ties that include discussions, inter- features lectures and other materi- views, and seminars. That number als from hundreds of colleges and is sure to grow as YouTubeEDU universities, including Stanford, has agreed to accept content from Harvard, and the Massachusetts any "qualifying two- and four-year Institute of Technology (MIT). institutions." Guidelines say in- YouTubeEDU is the result of stitutions must apply online, and a volunteer project sparked by a there can be only one application group of employees who wanted per institution. Marilyn Gilroy teaches communications at Bergen Community Coilege in Paramas, NJ. Condensed, with permission, from The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, 19 (September 21, 2009). 12-14. Published at 80 Route 4 East. Ste. 203, Paramas. NJ 07652. 18 www.eddigest.com Higher Education Migrates to YouTube and Social Networks Colleges are boasting of their Another website. Education for presence on YouTubeEDU and All, offers more than video with its making the most of its marketing courses. The site provides syllabus potential. Some are uploading materials that accompany courses, presentations linked to cultural plus reading lists. The link for a and. entertainment phenomena. course on financial markets, taught For example, Carnegie Mellon Uni- by Robert Schiller, a professor of versity's (CMU) "Star Trek Tech" economics at Yale University, even video features professors talking added copies of the exams and about technology deyelopments in solutions as well as a discussion robotics and virtual reality as well forum for viewers. The site also as medical and communication ad- includes a complete set of four Chi- vances, comparing them to those nese-language courses available used in scenes from last spring's with a package of downloadable Star Trek movie. CMU faculty mem- textbooks and audio recordings bers also discuss the link between of dialogues. science fiction writing and scien- tific research. The video received Elite University Content approximately 25,000 views. And then there is Academic When Borough of Manhattan Earth, a site which also offers Community College posted a lec- video courses and lectures from ture by one of its nursing faculty some of the nation's top scholars. members, it drew more than 3,872 Founded by Richard'Ludlow, a Yale views. graduate. Academic Earth's mis- YouTube Is not the only Internet sion is to "give everyone on earth site offering higher education lec- access to a world-class education." tures and courses- One competitor It draws material from Harvard, is Big Think, which bills itself as "a MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, and global forum connecting people Berkeley and says that 50% of us- and ideas." Its experts include Paul ers come from outside the United Krugman, the Nobel-Prize-winning States. Like many other educa- professor from Princeton Univer- tional sites, it has a Facebook page sity, as well as Billy Collins, former and a presence on Twitter. U.S. poet laureate, and dozens of Ludlow says there are distinct other professors, politicians, and differences between Academic business leaders speaking on vari- Earth and sites such as Big Think ous topics. For example, viewers and YouTubeEDU. can see a presentation on how "Big Think also hosts academic the Supreme Court works or an videos, but only those that they explanation of the future of the U.S. produce themselves in a specific government's bank rescue plan. short-form monologue format. March 2010 19 THE EDUCATION DIGEST whereas Academic Earth brings to- podcast lectures simultaneously or gether videos from several sources right after class. Stanford divides with more of a focus on courses," its iTunesU material, touted as he said. "The biggest differences "Stanford lo go," into a public site between YouTubeEDU and Aca- featuring courses, lectures, and demic Earth are the user interface even sports events, and a restrict- and the editorial oversight on Aca- ed site, for course-based material demic Earth. Instead of hosting any or campus communications. video that a university produces, we hand-pick videos whose pro- Who's Watching? duction quality and educational The audience is unclear, al- focus are such that they will offer though founders of Education for a great learning experience for All envision their site as a place the viewer. So while we have a where students can supplement smaller content index, visitors can their studies by viewing a course be confident that everything they similar to the one tbey are taking find on our site will be of very high and interacting witb students quality" at other universities who might A slightly different but related be watching, too. For those who approach is found on FORA.tv, with bave already graduated, tbese its tagline, "The Smart Network." sites provide an opportunity to FORA offers unedited video drawn take interesting courses for per- from events at universities, think sonal growth free of charge and in tanks, and conferences. a viewer's spare time. Some sites "We present this provocative, have attracted faculty members big-idea content for anyone to who have tuned in to watch how watcb. interact with, and share— instructors at other colleges teach when, where, and how they want," the same subject matter. according to the site's manage- Ludlow says Academic Earth ment team. The team includes attracts some of these same de- Blaise Zerega, former deputy edi- mographics, which fall into four tor at Conde Nast Publications and basic groups. managing editor of Wired. "First, the 'lifelong learner' seg- The forerunner and "big daddy" ment, whicb consists of older of all mobile and portable educa- adults who are intellectually cu- tional content is iTunesU, with rious and view our content just more than 150,000 lectures, pre- to enrich their fives," he said. sentations, videos, readings, and "Second, high school and college podcasts available for downloads students, who use our materials on iPods. It is used by many uni- to enhance their own classroom versities as a way for professors to instruction or to do research for 20 www.eddigest.com Higher Education Migrates to YouTube and Social Networks papers and projects. Third, work- alumni, athletics, admissions, and ing professionals and job seekers, academic departments in order to who view our business, economics, reach former, current, and future engineering, and computer science students. videos to gain knowledge related "If colleges don't start profiles to job skills. And fourth, teachers for their school on Facebook, My and professors who get ideas for Space, Twitter, etc., then an alum their own classrooms." or current student will do it for In the next few months. Academ- them," she said. "And by waiting ic Earth will be adding new videos, or mis-thinking it is a fad, they run starting with a collection of medi- the risk of losing complete control cal videos for doctors, scientists, of their brand online. It is very and public health professionals. common." Many administrators and fac- Social Media Find ulty are getting the message about an Academic Niche the use of social networks. They The idea of adding social net- are trying out new possibilities works as educational tools in the that engage students and create academic landscape is catching feelings of belonging. on fast as colleges recognize the At Northeastern University, Dan potential to use the networks as Schneider uses the social network- both marketing tools and learning ing site to build relationships with tools. students in his lecture biology Heather Mansfield, who owns a class. He sets up Facebook groups consulting business, helps colleges for his classes and invites students and universities use MySpace, to join via their profiles. Schneider Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube then creates a digital photo roster to advance their online communi- of the class so he can connect cations and development strate- names with faces. Students use gies. the class group sites to get to "The thing with higher ed and know each other better or to ask social media is that colleges really classmates about homework as- don't understand that they have no signments and lab reports. In turn, choice whether they want to use Schneider says he enjoys meeting social media," she said. the students in this way and parti- Mansfield believes that it is cipating in their lives. For example, important for colleges to build an he will send them a birthday note online community where the stu- because their profiles list the date. dents are—and that means having He also finds it useful when writing accounts on Twitter and Facebook. student recommendations because She suggests multiple accounts for he looks to the student profiles for March 2010 21 THE EDUCATION DIGEST unique information about their academic content as fads that will lives and interests.