Digital divides in the classroom – undergrads versus EMBA alums
Having started the winter quarter I profiled my undergraduate students on their use of technology. Everyone uses facebook, around a third of the class own their own domain name, around 5 use twitter, and approximately the same number regularly blog online. This has changed for the better since my last internet marketing class of 2007 but of course isnt widely representative given the small numbers (but it is an interesting observation never the less). By the end of class all of those numbers will have gone up (especially once they understand the ways in which they can make money from these technologies or use them to otherwise be more effective post college). The EMBA alums on the other hand need some help. And quickly. Three of the 15 present for my talk on personal branding last night were on facebook. Everyone had at least heard of twitter (though no one was using it), and no one owned their own domain name. This speaks to me of a huge technological divide between those that have and understand, and those that dont and dont. Are these socio-technological trends passing by older generations? Are practicing managers just too busy to use these tools to effect? Is it an issue of understanding HOW you might use these to be more effective at what you do? Is this technological lag and nothing to worry about – just like using email in the 1990's? Interestingly the majority of EMBA companies represented in the audience last night had banned access to facebook at work. Some of corporate America doesnt get it – as I said to them – secure the data not the channel and educate people on appropriate use of corporate resources (there were lots of heads nodding in agreement). Social networks are the future of effective work practice. A persons competitive advantage will be hugely impacted upon by the size and expertise of their networks. Your core competence will be if it isnt already – your network. Marketers have known this for years but finally we have a technology that enables us to create more meaningful relationships and many senior managers dont get it. Well they do now. Neil is on a personal rampage to educate corporates and bring them kicking and screaming into the digital world!
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Neil- I heard your presentation to the EMBA alumns was a huge success- almost “god-like”. Technology changes so fast. It is hard to understand what to embrace and what not to because the learning curve takes an investment of time. Time is something we all struggle to manage anyhow.
I hope that you can continue to educate the Rochester professionals on your wisdom of personal branding!
I had no idea you gave a presentation on personal branding back on Dec 2. I would have gone if I knew about it. Glad your EMBA presentation went well and I look forward to covering personal branding with you in Internet Marketing class!
I love Twitter, and all things tweet. =)
Neil,
I’m glad RIT has a class that encourages students to immerse themselves in technology and use it to benefit themselves once they graduate.
Being only 2 years removed from the undergraduate experience I wish I’d had this type of class when I was a freshman. It would have been great to begin building online equity years ago, rather than realizing after graduating this was something I needed to do.
Cheers,
Jesse