The Connected Researcher: Networking and collaborating with web 2.0/Social media

Susan Smith and Sarah Nicholas

Aims and objectives of session

to show ways in which you can build an effective and supportive online network

to look at a range of social media toolsto discuss issues associated with social

media and researchers

Social Media

“The online technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences and perspectives” (Cann et al, 2011)1

Today will focus on a range of tools and practices which enable you to build an online network

1 Cann et al. 2011. Social Media: a guide for researchers. Available at: http://ht.ly/3TWiR

Social Media

All tools and resources mentioned today are listed at http://www.diigo.com/list/buslibcardiff/the-connected-researcher

Outline of session

Introduction: Why use social media? Case studies of connected researchers Networking

~~~~~~~ Lunch 12.15 – 1.15 ~~~~~~~~ Disseminate and Communicate Collect and Review The Joined-Up Connected Researcher

Tweet this session

Log in to your Twitter account Compose a tweet by clicking on or , or

in the tweet box Use the hashtag #CR12

Follow tweets on this session

#CR12

What are you hoping to gain from the session?

What social media tools have you used already?

Why use social media?Idea of ‘connected’ researcher is nothing new

- Researchers have always exchanged and disseminated information

-Researchers have always built a network of peers

Range of social media tools to facilitate and support existing behaviours and practices - easy and free to use

Social media and researchers

Use of social media becoming more widespread amongst researchers

- Social Media : a guide for Researchers published in February 2011 by RIN - Digital Researcher Days run by Vitae at the British Library

-In-house university training e.g. Warwick’s 23 things for the Digital Professional

Why use social media?

Help to build your profile – ‘showcase’ yourself and your work

“Social media allow academics to support students and colleagues, network and explore new intellectual connections” (Brabazon 2010)

Help you identify research opportunities (Cann et al 2011)

Brabazon, T. 2010. A community of scholars. [Online] Available at

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=413384

Cann et al. 2011. Social Media: a guide for researchers. Available at: http://ht.ly/3TWiR

Why use social media?

These tools will help you connect with: Other researchers and PHD students, both

internal and external General public

Growing need to communicate research findings to public – these tools make it easier

Why use social media?Enhances research - according to CIBER

(2010) researchers found Web 2.0 tools to be very or extremely useful for: Disseminating findings Identifying Research Opportunities Finding collaborators

“Social media presents some opportunities for better, faster research and dissemination” (CIBER 2010)

CIBER. 2010. Social media and research workflow? [Online] http://www.ucl.ac.uk/infostudies/research/ciber/Charleston-2010.pdf

Why use social media?

May save time – use it to harvest the ‘wisdom of crowds’ and find resources through your network

It can help with the isolation of doing research

Engages you with a community that cares about what you care about

Your online presence/ digital footprint

The majority of us have an ‘online presence’ or ‘digital footprint’ Institutional – e.g. information on university

webpages Professional – e.g. LinkedIn profile Social media - e.g. Facebook, Twitter

What is your digital footprint?

In pairs or groups of three search for one of your group/pair on Google – find out as much as possible about 1 each other

10 minsWhat do you find?

Online presence considerations

Can use social media to take control of your online identity

Lots of tips available (e.g. Online Research identity blog post)

Use ‘official’ channels as well as social media e.g. university websites, ORCA

Google scholar citation profiles