by Laurel Papworth on February 6, 2010 · 11 comments
I love the bit about having to be where the students are and using modern tools . Not just education should be saying that!
A Singapore-based university lecturer believes educators should harness the potential of social media as it is not only practical, this is in the interest of students who will go into the workforce as “efficient knowledge workers”.
With students using channels such as Twitter or discussion forums in their normal life, it “only makes sense” for educators to speak to them through channels they are familiar with and proficient at using, said Netzley.
“Sometimes, as educators, we make the assumption that ideas must come first from us, the faculty member. We dislike anything that draws attention away from us as we deliver what we think students need to know,” he said. “Frankly, I feel we sometimes over-elevate the importance of faculty in the complex process of student learning.”
“Learning happens everywhere,” he said. He added that the use of Twitter or discussion forums such as FriendFeed in the class opens up opportunities for students to participate and play an active role in their learning. (Read More on ZdNet Asia)
I think a couple of Australian Unis are doing the same, also, mostly in media studies and communications degrees.
Today, my husband and I were in bed, and just as I was about to finish he screamed, “Oh shit! It’s 4:15, my strawberries are gonna whither!!!!” and then jumped off me and went to check on his farm on FarmVille. An imaginary farm, on Facebook. FML
Love the 258 comments
What would you do if this guy was yours?
Leave him?
Build a better farm?
Build a better farm and then leave him?
I vote number 3. Are our lives changing? It’s interesting to me that a few years ago, he’d be like, “gotta go now, the footy is on the telly”. People don’t change. Just their pathetic excuses do Or is social gaming somehow a different beast? Have we time shifted our television viewing just to be sucked into the false urgency of reaping crops? Ummm, you answer that, I’ve gotta go milk the cows and harvest the pineapples.
by Laurel Papworth on February 1, 2010 · 21 comments
Well, the number of Australians on Facebook has shot through the roof. After sitting on 6 million for a while, we have 7,900,000 monthly active users, 6,900,000 over 18 years old. That’s quite a jump. Or maybe it’s been longer than I thought since I last checked. If you hunt through this blog, you’ll notice that I’ve been tracking Facebook users in Australia since May 2007 (around 200,000 members I think) to today and 1/3 of Australian population.
It just keeps increasing. Here’s the description of a Monthly Active User according to Facebook, as well as the August figures for Australians on Facebook. If you want to track the Australians on Facebook yourself, pretend to create an ad, fill in the fields and you’ll see similar to above screen.
by Laurel Papworth on January 27, 2010 · 23 comments
Virtual goods in the USA will reach $1.6 billion revenue in 2010
I have a patent in social network economies particularly in user generated virtual goods – which we don’t see a lot of yet. So I tend to keep an eye on how virtual goods are coming along. That’s the problem with patents, you have to get your timing right to develop and launch. When I took out the patent – pre Facebook, pre Twitter – it was impossible to explain to investors how pixel products were going to jump from closed game worlds (Everquest) into the real world. Now it’s easier….
Virtual goods are expected to hit $1.6 billion in revenue in the U.S. in 2010, according to a report from Inside Network.
The most interesting part of that number is that social gaming startups — which didn’t exist three years ago — will account for about $835 million of that total, said Justin Smith, founder of Inside Network and co-author with Charles Hudson of the Inside Virtual Goods report.
Virtual goods are digital items that don’t exist in the real world. They’re often used to monetize free games available on social networks such as Facebook. In Zynga’s FarmVille game on Facebook, for instance, you can buy a hot rod tractor that can help you grow your crops faster. While FarmVille is free, you pay for the tractor using real money via credit cards or other payment systems.
Other figures from the article:
Virtual goods might hit $1.6 billion this year, but South Korea has had cyber goods for a decade (around $4 billion)
2009 may have seen revenues (USA) of $1billion
In fact Cyworld (South Korea) has huge number of members – like 86% of the Korean population – and zero adveritising. Yet more revenue than MySpace – all from virtual goods. Actually, MySpace may have caught up now.
by Laurel Papworth on January 22, 2010 · 7 comments
Is blogging interesting to anyone other than social media kool aid drinkers? Is there an audience for blogging shows? Niche shows don’t seem sustainable with few exceptions. There is an interest in technology gadgets but there’s very few shows on that, and only one show on Travel that is regular. Haven’t seen a gardening show in forever unless it’s a makeover one. Who was the TV show host/gardener with the lisp?
Anyway here’s Malaysia’s attempt at moving more mainstream with merging blogs with traditional media:
Project Alpha is Malaysia’s first online TV Show about bloggers. It is a fast paced, fast cut, lifestyle-driven show tailor made for the online market which provides increased recognition of the expanding role and influence of bloggers across the nation.
Project Alpha emphasizes that every blogger is unique in their own way, each gaining popularity and credibility as opinion leaders on various topics including celebrity news, fashion trends, travel and entertainment. It is set to be the first online TV show to look beyond the screen to unveil the real faces behind Malaysia’s top bloggers, taking a sneak peek into their lives – who they are, how they live, what makes them tick and from where they derive their inspiration – to capture the attention and interest of millions of online readers on a daily basis.
Look forward to a high powered working Mum, two shopaholics and a full-time accountant by day who is a powerful entertainment blogger by night in Project Alpha. Not only that, we will also feature a daredevil character who is always seeking the next adrenalin rush, and a travel writer who practically lives out of her suitcase.
Hosted by Jojo Struys (jojostruys.com), Project Alpha will be aired on www.nuffnang.com.my/projectalpha and www.hitz.fm daily for 7 weeks starting on 18 September 2009. Each episode is approximately 3 minutes and aims to deliver diverse content just for you.
Project Alpha inspires to encourage people from all walks of life start their own blog to share their passions in life. Who knows, you might be featured in our next season of Project Alpha as a blogger we uncovered?
Yes, it’s online, not broadcast TV. Their twitter stream@ProjectAlphaMY is showing some behind the scenes stuff:
Who would you put in front of a camera for a TV show in Australia on interesting bloggers or social media users? I reckon Stephen Collins (Trib at AcidLabs), Darren Rowse (Problogger) and maybe Rhonda Hetzel (Down to Earth) ??
by Laurel Papworth on January 19, 2010 · 13 comments
We can be as careful as we like, swearing not to put things online, not to respond negatively, not to reveal personal information in social media sites. But what about friends and family?
Do I really need to say anything more? The comments say it all…
Remember it’s not you that uploads to Facebook photos of yourself trashed, vomiting in a taxi, at 4am on a Sunday morning in Kings Cross. You’re too busy spewing to hold a camera. It’s your friends. Who think it’s funny. Seen by your boss or dad who doesn’t.
by Laurel Papworth on January 18, 2010 · 58 comments
PR people need to be careful how they frame an invite to a blogger press event. This social media invite sent to Fashionista highlights some of the issues of running blogger only events.
I was recently told by a P.R. person that I “had” to come to a Blogger Preview because it was the first one in Australia. When I pointed out I had been invited to them for a number of years now, she was shocked and insisted that this was new - Bloggers Only. No Journalists. When I said out that I preferred to socially network with a mixed crowd -bloggers AND journos – she was a little miffed yet recovered by saying that they were giving away a special presenters pen to one lucky participant (sort of like remote mouse I think). Well, woop de doo…
Exclusive Blogger Preview!
Come take a sneak peek at ______’s Summer 2010 Collection before anyone else! Bloggers who attend will receive a special gift and those who post coverage from the event will be entered in a mystery gift card drawing where you can win up to $500 at _____!
Please Note: All bloggers must post coverage from our event to their blog within 24 hours in order to be eligible.
by Laurel Papworth on January 18, 2010 · 25 comments
Huffington Post and TechCrunch both have high valuations ($100m+). Yes, Virginia, social media and blogs CAN make money. Will 2010 see the further rise of social media proprietors?
Something that continually gets asked of me at conferences and workshops is “Where’s the Money?”. It’s usually said in a tone that implies that social media is so gosh- darn “social” and “friendly” that everyone gives everything away for free. Which of course is just rubbish. Currency itself has no inherent value except what we, the community/nation, put on it.
We value what we value – here’s the some of the revenue information and the valuation of two uber-blogs:
Huffington Post Revenue and Valuation
Estimated Value: $150 million
Business: An online newspaper/news aggregator and group blog.
Investors: Greycroft Partners, Softbank Capital, Ken Lerer, Bob Pittman, Oak Investment Partners
Analysis: Many naysayers thought Huffington Post’s moment in the spotlight would fade away after the presidential election, but one year later the political/news blog has nearly doubled its audience to around 7 million monthly US unique visitors. The company has proven to be more than adept at balancing reporting the news with growing visitors and pageviews.
We estimate about $10 million in 2009 revenue and apply a 15-times multiple (higher than other blogs given growth and brand strength) to arrive at a $150 million valuation. (from Silicon Alley Insider)
by Laurel Papworth on January 17, 2010 · 15 comments
Marie Claire this month has an article on an online brawl between a model/socialite, a snarky blogger and Google. I know that some of you readers out there in bloggy land like to read traditional media from time to time – especially when a social media goddess a la me (heh) is in it – so here’s the link.
When model Liskula Cohen found out she’d been vilified on a vicious blog, she set out to unmask her anonymous attacker – and ended up challenging the way the web works. Lisa Dabscheck investigates.
Marie Claire social media article
Liskula Cohen inhaled sharply, glanced at her keyboard and punched her name into Google. She wasn’t indulging idle curiosity that day in August 2008, but investigating an unnerving piece of news. A few hours earlier, the 37-year-old Canadian model had been on a fashion shoot on a Florida beach when her client casually enquired whether she was aware that she was the subject of a blog called skanksinNYC.com on the Google hosted website Blogger.com.
Lisa is a very nice journalist – not a journogger by any means, she doesn’t blog or Twitter or anything. But I liked her anyway A few quotes from me are in the article:
by Laurel Papworth on January 15, 2010 · 56 comments
HotelsMag has come up with 10 Internet Marketing Resolutions for 2010 including social media ones. Interesting to juxtapose them against the reality of our booking with Discover Australia and staying at the York Fairmont in the Blue Mountains.
Aaah Holidays. Who’d ‘ave ‘em eh? Just had a rather crappy experience with Discover Australia – they advertised “Free Internet -Exclusive” for the hotel we wanted to stay in, then after we booked (we sent a confirmation email with a question on the internet) said “Oh it’s just a FREE 1/2 HOUR”.
Discover Australia note free internet access claim
I reported them to the ACCC – remember “free”mobile phone fiasco and resultant fines? – but I bet nothing will come of it. Next time I will book direct with the hotel and check FIRST that what they advertise “free internet” doesn’t come with such ridiculous marketing spin.
A woman tracks down one thief, calling on Facebook friends to help and another thief builds up a Fanpage, literally and metaphorically giving the finger to authorities.
Why do we resent social networking sites assisting China but cheer when they help British authorities? Is it because China is “bad” and Britain is “good”? Or veiled racism? [...]
I tried to join Marcom Professional community but – and there was no warning, it was after I filled in the form – they require an email address of someone I know on the site. Well I know a bunch of people on there, and tried about EIGHT email addresses, but none of them worked. [...]
Marketing Magazine name Industry Head of Social Media for Australia. What is an Industry? What is an Influencer? What commodity does social media create, to make an industry?
Kate Kendall (@KateKendall) from Marketing Magazine approached me a little while ago to write a piece on the “state of the social media industry”. I hunkered down and [...]
I always thought Beacon would work, it was just a bit too soon for some of the older bloggers, who kicked up a stink that Beacon couldn’t be turned off and the default option was “on”. Facebook, for a long time, didn’t remove it completely, they reset the default to private. Anyway, what was Beacon? [...]
Laurel has been creating and managing virtual communities for 20 years, teaching social media for the last 5 years and was named Industry Head, Social Media by Marketing Magazine (Australia) in 2010. Number #4 Women blogger in Australia. More on the About page if interested.
2010 Dates! These are hands on in the classroom practical social media campaign one day classes:
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, junde: A mouthful. RT @SilkCharm Singapore: University + Twitter =... , redmeetsblue: @SilkCharm: http://laurelpapworth.com/s... , Michael Watkins: Wow, only just saw this post! This would’ve... , Gareth Liew: Wow, it’s nice to have our university being... , lets build a vote system here: wouldn’t be fun to make a online... , ciberesfera: [Google Reader] Singapore: University + Twitter =... , dnwallace: Cool: “Singapore: University + Twitter =... , ecomunidades: Singapore: University + Twitter = Twuniversity: I love... , marketingblogs: Singapore: University + Twitter = Twuniversity... , thgbusiness: Singapore: University + Twitter = Twuniversity: I love...
Or is social gaming somehow a different beast? Have we time shifted our television viewing just to be sucked into the false urgency of reaping crops? Ummm, you answer that, I’ve gotta go milk the cows and harvest the pineapples.
, junde
, Michael Watkins
, Gareth Liew
, lets build a vote system here
