Students in the Sport Marketing SPM2122 unit recently experienced a seminar with a contemporary twist, through a live Twitter discussion during their weekly class on Wednesday 14 March.
The students were instructed to bring their laptops or smartphones along to class for the activity, which took the place of a traditional group discussion. In groups, the students answered discussion questions on contemporary issues in sport management and marketing by logging in to Twitter and using the hashtag #SPM2122 to join the live tweeted conversation.
Prior to the activity the students also learned about ‘netiquette’, and how to maximise social media for commercial use in the sport industry.
Lecturer Olan Scott decided to integrate social media into the seminar as he considers it to be an important component of preparing today’s students for the workplace.
“There is anecdotal evidence that universities do not adequately teach students how to effectively engage the wider community via social media. This is concerning, especially as it has been suggested that Generation Y graduates are increasingly being put in charge of their company’s social media accounts, including Facebook, Twitter, and others.
“While students usually have a wealth of practical knowledge from engaging with social media for personal use, the aim of this exercise was to provide a theoretical understanding about how to successfully use social media to foster loyal customers within the sport industry,” said Mr Scott.
The students will tweet chat again as part of the unit’s assessment items on Wednesday of weeks 5 (28 March) and 10 (25 April), for 90 minute sessions starting at 9.00am. Community and industry members are invited to join the conversation alongside the students, and are also able to preview the topics for the week 5 session in preparation.
More information
For more information, contact Lecturer Olan Scott.
Email: o.scott@ecu.edu.au
* NOTE: This post has been copied from the ECU Faculty of Business and Law post (http://www.ecu.edu.au/faculties/business-and-law/news/marketing,-tourism-and-leisure/2012/03/students-experience-seminar-with-a-social-twist) and the ECU School of Marketing, Tourism and Leisure post (http://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/marketing-tourism-leisure/news-and-events/2012/03/students-experience-seminar-with-a-social-twist).
I’ve copied it here to archive it in case the ECU pages are changed.
Olan Scott 