advising the google generation

The ‘Google Generation’: Using online resources and social media to assist student choice

Michael.Larbalestier@prospects.co.uk

http://careerswork20.blogspot.com

Google GenerationBorn 1995-2010•Oldest now 15•exposed to technology very early•Internet always existed for this group•most already have an online identity•too many extra-curricular activities•Used to mobile computing•Used to online collaboration

applying to university

“ All the modern student needs is open, transparent information about all aspects of the course, including its wage earning potential and actual job prospects, based on past graduates. Social networks will do the rest.”

John Morgan, President of the ASCL Jan 2010

• Over 350m active users worldwide

• 50% log on each day

• Over 2.5b photos uploaded to the site each month

• Over 3.5b pieces of content (web links, news stories, blog posts, notes, photo albums, etc.) shared each week

• More than 3.5m events created each month

• More than 1.6m active Pages on Facebook

• Pages have created more than 5.3 billion fans

Source: Facebook

23 million active users in UK (December 2009)

2m are aged 50 and over

3m are aged 40-49

5m are aged 30-39

8m are aged 20-29

5m are aged 19 and under

Time on social networks increased 86% over last year

Source: The Nielsen Company Jan 2010

5 ½ hours

Average time On social networks in Dec 2009 - Source: The Nielsen Company Jan 2010

The Google generation

• show ease and familiarity with computers

• rely on the most basic search tools

• lack critical and analytical skills to asses the information that they find on the web

• impatience in search and navigation

• zero tolerance for any delay in satisfying their information needs – common to all age groups

• need to equip users of all age-groups with wider information and digital literacy skills

Information Behaviour of the Researcher of the Future: JISC/British Library/University College London 2009

20.4 billion

The Indexed Web contains at least 20.4 billion pages (worldwidewebsize.com January, 2010).

Search Providers market share

67%

14 %

10%

Nielsen MegaView Search December 2009 – US search providers home and work

Search results aren’t always what they seem...

the problem

• Not always asking the right question

• Not always asking the right people

• Some answers are helpful or insightful

• Many answers are partial, prejudiced, ill-informed, or wrong

• Users not always good at evaluating and analysing search results

SEARCH: “University of Glamorgan”

Does anyone have examples of personal statements?

Do I stand a chance of Oxbridge?

Does anyone else’s parents hate their university choices?

What do universities think of Duke of Edinburgh Award?

Do you need good English GCSE grade for Medicine?

Would university benefit my planned career in the Police?

Where is the closest Roman Catholic Church to Treforest?

Did you have a nice time living in treeforest?

Hull or Glamorgan. Which is better for business students?

Which BTEC do I need to get into the Atrium for computer animation?

What’s the cheapest way to get to Treforest from London?

Can UK universities reject you if you have cancer?

Which is better for Law? Glamorgan or Swansea for teaching, location, accommodation?

How hard to get onto a netball team at Aber, Bath Spa or Glamorgan?

Outside Oxbridge where’s best for English Literature and why?

Any advice for applying for sociology?

Is anyone going to Glamorgan open day?

What kind of portfolio for Game Art and Animation?

Which is the best place to study?

Elitist Value seeker

Rebel Social

What does bestmean to you

Value seeker

Rebel Social

What does bestmean to you

Rebel Social

What does bestmean to you

Rebel

What does bestmean to you

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenboy/

What does bestmean to you

www.flickr.com/photos/jemsweb/

How do you know who can offer valuable advice?

getting to know your social network

• Help students to:

– Map their network (online and offline)

– Uncover the resources within their network

– Develop connection strategies to strengthen and expand their network

– Learn to tap into the resources in their network

– Seek and offer advice, recommendations and referrals

– Link their goals to people in your network

Map your network

Twitter Friends

Network Browser

Social media tools and resources

Popular websites for uni applicants

Website Dec 2009 visitors

Peak month visitors

The Student Room 132,351 164,425 in May

UCAS 6,354 11,785 in January

Studential 4,147 5,989 in October

Hot Courses 3,865 11,118 in June

What Uni 1,790 3,472 in June

Horsesmouth 1,138 3,347 in September

Merlin Helps Students 860 2376 in September

Push 856 936 in March

Yougofurther 719 2831 in April

UK Coursefinder n/a 1025 in July

Icould n/a 1485 in June

Open Days 1 493 in JuneSource: Site analytics by Compete.com

Online resources

Get and share web page recommendations on your subject

Learn from undergraduates on the course you’re considering

Find out about facilities where you want to study

Update your status on Facebook, blog or twitter

Subscribe to podcasts by university or subject. Listen to a University’s internet radio station.

View a video clip about your chosen university.

Find out about people’s career paths and university specialisation

See what places look like

Try university level study online with Open Learn or MIT Open Courseware

More online resources

Join an online group, or be a fan of university facebook page, or follow them on Twitter

Ask people for their views on your career/university plans

Seek an online mentor who is working in a sector you aspire to

Subscribe to feeds on your chosen university, discipline or career – consume them in Google Reader or on your i-Google homepage

Check out the local part-time job market near your chosen university

Find out about Graduate employment for your subject or career area

Map your social network, network with others with similar goals

Meet up in real life with people with shared interests

Set and monitor your goals and share experience with others with similar goals

Build your own a personal university application research tool?

The student room - wikis

The student room - forums

Google maps

Google - reviews

University radio on the internetURN – NottinghamSURGE – SouthamptonURY – YorkRaw - WarwickSubcity – GlasgowGU2 – SurreyKUBE – KeelePure FM – PortsmouthCLICK TEESSIDE – TeessideXtreme radio – SwanseaTEQUILA radio – GlamorganXpressradio – CardiffBurst – BristolBAY RADIO – AberystwythFusefm – ManchesterBurn FM – BirminghamURB – BathCur1350 – CambridgeOXIDE – OxfordPurple radio - Durham

Join

groups

Get a

mentor

Get

answers

10 roles to support Higher

Education applicants

explorer

reviewer

producer

networker

safety officer

intelligence officer

tutor/coach

curator

equalities officer

guide

Contact me

Michael.Larbalestier@prospects.co.uk

http://careerswork20.blogspot.com