Before getting started, every student needs to sign up for accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Delicious. Existing accounts on these platforms can be used for this class.
Also, join our Facebook group (IYLEP 2013 @VCU) and follow our Twitter feed (@vcusocialmedia). We are using the hashtag #vcusocialmedia on Twitter.
The following are the assignments for students enrolled in IYLEP, MASC 491 and MASC 691:
Tool presentation
You will present in class for 2-3 minutes on a social media tool of your choice. The social media tool should not be one that has already been addressed in class and should be relevant to the nonprofit projects we are developing in class. Search the Web for special social media tools or mobile apps that will surprise us. This is your chance to bring something to the table that advances our project work. Before your presentation, post a link to your tool and a 100-word description on Delicious and use the hashtag “vcusocialmedia” for your post.
• Due date: Individually assigned (please see schedule under “Files” in our Facebook Group)
Twitter engagement
You will use the microblogging platform Twitter every day. It is expected that you tweet every day about lectures and events in class and those involving your social media project. Always use the hashtag “#vcusocialmedia” for your tweets. You are expected to tweet three times on days that class is in session (Monday – Friday). Overall, it is also expected that you increase your Twitter following by a minimum of 50 people throughout the duration of our class. Follow all of your classmates by July 8 (see link under “Files” in our Facebook Group to everyone’s Twitter handles). VCU students are expected to have a professional photo and personal description on their Twitter profiles. Further details will be provided in class.
• Due date: Every day (July 5-26)
LinkedIn profile
Develop a professional profile on the business network LinkedIn. You need to achieve at least a 80-90% completion rate on your LinkedIn account. You need to include information on your current position (VCU or internship/job) and location, your past jobs, your education, and your skills as well as a professional photo and at least 30 professional connections. You need to have at least one professional (professors, employers) recommendations. Further details will be provided in class.
• Draft due date: July 22
• Final due date: July 31
Blog contribution
This assignment is for the VCU undergraduate students only: On one day during our course, it will be your turn to summarize the day’s lecture and all activities in a blog post on our class website. The blog post (300-400 words) should be a good summary of all content and should include links to all important resources introduced that day. You also need to provide a photo of a guest speaker or activity. The blog post needs to be e-mailed to Teaching Assistant Alix Hines by 6 p.m. the same day. Further details will be provided in class.
• Due date: Individual sign-up (please see schedule under “Files” in our Facebook Group))
Blog contribution and presentation (for IYLEP students)
Presentation: In the groups that were assigned at the meeting in Washington, prepare a brief, five-minute presentation, using Powerpoint, to give an overview of your region in Iraq to the American students in our class. Show them how life is like in Iraq. You can also show the photos you brought and play some music. Make sure that every group member contributes to the presentation. We will start the presentations on July 8 and all groups should be ready to present that day. From there on, we will do one presentation every day at the beginning of class until all groups presented. E-mail the Powerpoint by July 8 to Mrs. Medina-Messner.
Blog contribution: After you did your group presentation, you will start writing blog posts for the local online portal Richmond.com (www.richmond.com). Each student in your group should write a brief description of life in the region her/she is from. This is an opportunity for you to introduce life in Iraq to a large American audience, which mostly only hears about Iraq on the news. Talk about day-to-day life in the city or region where you live. Each student in your group should write a minimum of 300 words and contribute at minimum five photos. For each photo, you need to write a sentence about what is seen in the photo. You can use the help of the IYLEP mentors to write your blog post (also see examples under “Media” on our website. It is important that you explain well. Do not assume that Americans know your city (except for Baghdad) and the customs and lifestyle. When all of your group members are ready, send your combined post to Mrs. Medina-Messner. She will assign a deadline for each group in class during our first week.
• Due date for presentation: Please see schedule under “Files” in our Facebook Group
• Due date for blog post: Please see schedule under “Files” in our Facebook Group
Non-profit social media project
You will be organized in a group with students from MASC 491, MASC 691 and IYLEP that will select a non-profit organization in Richmond from a list provided by your instructors. You will develop and implement a social media project for this non-profit. The demands on the social media strategy will be developed in coordination with your group, your instructors and the leadership of the non-profit organization. It is expected that you will apply most of the social media concepts and tools included in this course. Further details will be provided in class.
• Due date: Weekly updates; draft presentation July 19; final presentation and manual July 26
Iraq social media project
This assignment is for the IYLEP students only: In a small group you will develop a social media strategy that you will implement during our academic study tour in Washington at the end of July. There will be no implementation in class, but it is expected that you will include most of the social media concepts and tools included in this course in that strategy. Further details will be provided in class.
• Due date: July 23
Midterm and final exams
You will be taking a midterm and a final exam in this class. They will both be take-home exams. The exams will include several essay questions. Further details on the exams will be provided in class.
• Midterm Exam: July 11-16
• Final Exam: July 19-23 (for IYLEP students); July 25-31 (for MASC 491 and 691 students)