Engaging Students through Social Media: Evidence-Based Practices for Use in Student Affairs

Although research shows that most of today's college studentsadopt and use social media at high rates, many higher educationprofessionals are unaware of how these technologies can be used foracademic benefit. Author Reynol Junco, associate professor atPurdue University and fellow at the Harvard Berkman Center forInternet & Society, has been widely cited for his research onthe impact of social technology on students. In EngagingStudents through Social Media: Evidence-Based Practice for Use inStudent Affairs, he offers a practical plan for implementingeffective social media strategies within higher educationsettings.

The book bridges the gap between a desire to use social mediaand the process knowledge needed to actually implement and assesseffective social media interventions, providing a research-basedunderstanding of how students use social media and the ways it canbe used to enhance student learning.

• Discover how social media can be used to enhance studentdevelopment and improves academic outcomes
• Learn appropriate strategies for social media use and how theycontribute to student success in both formal and informal learningsettings
• Dispel popular myths about how social media use affectsstudents
• Learn to use social media as a way to engage students, teachonline civil discourse, and support student development

The benefits of social media engagement include improvements incritical thinking skills, content knowledge, diversityappreciation, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, communityengagement, and student persistence. This resource helps highereducation professionals understand the value of using social media,and offers research-based strategies for implementing iteffectively.