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How Professors Are Using Twitter to Engage Students Outside of the Classroom


Colleges and universities have been adopting social media as a means of recruiting prospective students, increasing their recognition and keeping in touch with their undergraduates, graduates, alumni, faculty and staff. It has turned into a means of survival for most, but has helped schools provide an inside view into their community by highlighting their student’s interests and activities.

Twitter is teeming with handles from Boston’s best and brightest higher ed institutes. They’ve acknowledged how crucial staying synced in is, and while they’ve worked to reach their students outside of the classroom, it’s really the professor’s who’ve been paving the way. Numerous teachers, including two in particular from Boston College, have adopted the use of personal hashtags to reach out to their students and make learning more fun and interactive.

“There’s a huge upside to teaching students on Twitter,” said John Gallaugher, a professor of Information Systems at the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.

Gallaugher mandates his students tweet at least once a week. He, himself, tweets from @gallaugher, which helps him create a relationship with his students outside of the classroom. Their class hashtag is #cs021, and through that, students have been able to contribute news, ask questions and share their own work.

Fellow Information Systems professor, Gerald Kane (@profkane), requires his students blog. Thanks to Twitter, students now have a platform to promote their posts after they’ve been published. Kane’s Intro to Computer Systems class tweets using #mi021, but it’s his social media class, #mi621, that receives the most traffic.

Prior to the dawn of Twitter, students would tear out articles they found interesting and bring them to their professor’s after class. Now, students can link to those articles on Twitter and with one simple hash tag, share them with the entire class.

“Twitter is about learning,” Gallaugher said, who reminds his students there’s a lot you can discover from those you follow.

Many of the guest speakers who visit Gallaugher and Kane’s classes have a large presence on Twitter. Because of that presence, students can not only get more background information on the speakers, but they can also communicate with the speakers after their lecture is over, allowing for a stronger, more long-term interaction. Former students, as well as parents, have been jumping in on the Twitter streams themselves, bringing more opinions to the table and enhancing classroom discussion.

“Social media blasts out the conventional dialogue between students and faculty, students and alumni, and students and parents,” Gallaugher said.

There’s only so much that can be discussed in a two-hour class. By utilizing Twitter, students can carry their conversations over from the classroom while they’re still fresh in their heads.

“Twitter creates an online conversation that goes beyond the face-to-face meeting,” Kane said. “The value of using Twitter is the extended class conversation when you can’t meet in person.”

What Kane likes is that he can “double dip” with Twitter, using it in the classroom to teach his students and then outside of the classroom to teach his students. By having a personal hashtag, Kane’s also been able to save him and his students time. Quite often, Kane said his students reach out to him via Twitter with homework questions. By tweeting a response with the class hashtag, everyone can see it. So, instead of getting 10 different emails from 10 different students all asking the same question, he can have one student ask the question and then respond to the entire class. Along the same lines, students can also use Twitter to share collective notes.

Gallaugher encourages all students to sign up to Twitter, not only for the classroom component, but for everything else they can get out of it. He told a story of a venture capitalist who tweeted saying he was looking for an intern. When Gallaugher asked if he wanted him to post the opportunity on the school’s career board, he said no. He wanted to hire the kind of person who was already following the company on Twitter and knew what they were up to.

“Social media is really the new résumé,” Gallaugher said.

For most, Twitter’s become the new go-to resource for the latest news, tips and trends. Although students might use the platform to discuss what they’ve eaten for lunch at the dining hall, the tool has slowly been taken beyond that and factored into academia. The use of hashtags is something that all professors will, hopefully, begin to implement. By doing so, they can create a conversation outside of the classroom not only with their students, but with the world.

To learn more about what Gallaugher and Kane are teaching, as well as what their students are saying, start following their hashtags. Kane said, “We want everyone to start chiming in.”

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USA’s “Psych” Social TV Campaign Scores With Fans



USA Network launched a fun new interactive social media mystery game tie-in for its hit TV show Psych.

The game is called #HashTagKiller and it takes place on the Web using Facebook’s Open Graph API. The game launched on Wednesday and will unfold online over the next seven weeks. The game uses video created with the cast specifically for the game, as well as puzzles, clues and Facebook messages between series leads Shawn and Gus.

Users can visit hashtagkiller.com to get started and sign up using Facebook. We had a chance to talk to Jesse Redniss, VP of digital about the campaign, Psych and the state of social TV.

Psych has a very active social media following with more than 2 million fans on Facebook. In December, USA was also one of the first networks to release a second-screen app for the show. Redniss attended SXSW Interactive this year, along with Psych creator Steve Franks and star Dule Hill. I had a chance to interview all three at the Mashable SXSWi House that we setup with Facebook Live.

It turns out, SXSW was the catalyst for the #HashTagKiller online game. After SXSW was over, Hill became active on social media, frequently engaging with fans from Twitter and Facebook. This set in motion the idea of creating a special case, accessible online for the fans of the show.

After the idea was hatched, Psych writers got to work on a script. In addition to the online elements of the game, stars James Roday and Dule Hill also star in video clips that will roll out as part of the game each week. The clips are designed to mimic the look and feel of the show. During the week, players can log into HashTagKiller.com to get more clues and messages and continue to try to track down the killer and solve the case.

The result is a fully integrated social TV experience. What we like about this approach is that the producers, writers and cast were involved from the offset and social media were part of the narrative structure — not simply an add-on after the fact.


Early Results Are Promising


Redniss shared with Mashable some of the early numbers from the game. In the first 12 hours of being online, more than 13,000 unique visitors visited HashTagKiller.com. Of those visitors, 10,000 signed up for the game. At its peak Wednesday afternoon, the website was fielding over 6,000 requests a minute.

Even more impressive than the early sign-up figures — which took place entirely from social network-based promotion — is the average time users spent on the site. Redniss tells us that the average user spent more than 12 and a half minutes on the site. Additionally, 22% of visitors returned at least once within the first 12 hours.

These early figures show just how well this sort of campaign works with its audience. USA understands its audience and is looking to actively include it in various social initiatives.

For instance, next week, the network will be holding a special Fan Appreciation Day for Pysch fans in New York City. Fans will be given the opportunity to watch the season 6 premiere episode before it airs on TV on Oct. 12. USA will be livestreaming the event (sans premiere episode), which will include interviews with the writers, cast and crew and will answer questions posed by fans online and at the event.


Making Other Shows More Social


Psych has a socially engaged audience, which is one reason a campaign like #HashTagKiller is already off to such a solid start. What about USA’s other show that might have a less social audience? I asked Redniss about what the network is looking to do to increase the social activity for its other properties.

Redniss told me that using various social networks — including its popular Chatter real-time chat program, the network hopes to graduate its existing shows and its new skeins to a more social atmosphere.

Chatter is powered by Echo and lets users login and chat in real-time about a TV show as it airs. Chatter has proven to be successful for the network, especially in introducing audiences to the concept of social TV.


Mashable Interviews Cast & Crew from Psych at SXSW 2011 at Facebook Live


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7 Common Questions About Startup Employee Stock Options



Jim Wulforst is president of E*TRADE Financial Corporate Services, which provides employee stock plan administration solutions to both private and public companies, including 22% of the S&P 500.

Perhaps you’ve heard about the Google millionaires: 1,000 of the company’s early employees (including the company masseuse) who earned their wealth through company stock options. A terrific story, but unfortunately, not all stock options have as happy an ending. Pets.com and Webvan, for example, went bankrupt after high-profile Initial Public Offerings left their stock grants worthless.

Stock options can be a nice benefit, but the value behind the offer can vary significantly. There are simply no guarantees. So, whether you’re considering a job offer that includes a stock grant, or you hold stock as part of your current compensation, it’s crucial to understand the basics.

  • What types of stock plans are out there, and how do they work?
  • How do I know when to exercise, hold or sell?
  • What are the tax implications?
  • How should I think about stock or equity compensation relative to my total compensation and any other savings and investments I might have?

1. What are the most common types of employee stock offerings?


Two of the most common employee stock offerings are stock options and restricted stock.

Employee stock options are the most common among startup companies. The options give you the opportunity to purchase shares of your company’s stock at a specified price, typically referred to as the “strike” price. Your right to purchase – or “exercise” – stock options is subject to a vesting schedule, which defines when you can exercise the options.

Let’s take an example. Say you’re granted 300 options with a strike price of $10 each that vest equally over a three-year period. At the end of the first year, you would have the right to exercise 100 shares of stock for $10 per share. If, at that time, the company’s share price had risen to $15 per share, you have the opportunity to purchase the stock for $5 below the market price, which, if you exercise and sell concurrently, represents a $500 pre-tax profit.

At the end of the second year, 100 more shares will vest. Now, in our example, let’s say the company’s stock price has declined to $8 per share. In this scenario, you would not exercise your options, as you’d be paying $10 for something you could purchase for $8 in the open market. You may hear this referred to as options being “out of the money” or “under water.” The good news is that the loss is on paper, as you have not invested actual cash. You retain the right to exercise the shares and can keep an eye on the company’s stock price. Later, you may choose to take action if the market price goes higher than the strike price – or when it is back “in the money.”

At the end of the third year, the final 100 shares would vest, and you’d have the right to exercise those shares. Your decision to do so would depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the stock’s market price. Once you’ve exercised vested options, you can either sell the shares right away or hold onto them as part of your stock portfolio.

Restricted stock grants (which may include either Awards or Units) provide employees with a right to receive shares at little or no cost. As with stock options, restricted stock grants are subject to a vesting schedule, typically tied to either passage of time or achievement of a specific goal. This means that you’ll either have to wait a certain period of time and/or meet certain goals before you earn the right to receive the shares. Keep in mind that the vesting of restricted stock grants is a taxable event. This means that taxes will have to be paid based on the value of the shares at the time they vest. Your employer decides which tax payment options are available to you – these may include paying cash, selling some of the vested shares, or having your employer withhold some of the shares.


2. What’s the difference between “incentive” and “non-qualified” stock options?


This is a fairly complex area related to the current tax code. Therefore, you should consult your tax advisor to better understand your personal situation. The difference primarily lies in how the two are taxed. Incentive stock options qualify for special tax treatment by the IRS, meaning taxes generally don’t have to be paid when these options are exercised. And resulting gain or loss may qualify as long-term capital gains or loss if held more than a year.

Non-qualified options, on the other hand, can result in ordinary taxable income when exercised. Tax is based on the difference between the exercise price and fair market value at the time of exercise. Subsequent sales may result in capital gain or loss – short or long term, depending on duration held.


3. What about taxes?


Tax treatment for each transaction will depend on the type of stock option you own and other variables related to your individual situation. Before you exercise your options and/or sell shares, you’ll want to carefully consider the consequences of the transaction. For specific advice, you should consult a tax advisor or accountant.


4. How do I know whether to hold or sell after I exercise?


When it comes to employee stock options and shares, the decision to hold or sell boils down to the basics of long term investing. Ask yourself: how much risk am I willing to take? Is my portfolio well-diversified based on my current needs and goals? How does this investment fit in with my overall financial strategy? Your decision to exercise, hold or sell some or all of your shares should consider these questions.

Many people choose what is referred to as a same-day sale or cashless exercise in which you exercise your vested options and simultaneously sell the shares. This provides immediate access to your actual proceeds (profit, less associated commissions, fees and taxes). Many firms make tools available that help plan a participant’s model in advance and estimate proceeds from a particular transaction. In all cases, you should consult a tax advisor or financial planner for advice on your personal financial situation.


5. I believe in my company’s future. How much of its stock should I own?


It is great to have confidence in your employer, but you should consider your total portfolio and overall diversification strategy when thinking about any investment – including one in company stock. In general, it’s best not to have a portfolio that is overly dependent on any one investment.


6. I work for a privately-held startup. If this company never goes public or is purchased by another company before going public, what happens to the stock?


There is no single answer to this. The answer is often defined in the terms of the company’s stock plan and/or the transaction terms. If a company remains private, there may be limited opportunities to sell vested or unrestricted shares, but it will vary by the plan and the company.

For instance, a private company may allow employees to sell their vested option rights on secondary or other marketplaces. In the case of an acquisition, some buyers will accelerate the vesting schedule and pay all options holders the difference between the strike price and the acquisition share price, while other buyers might convert unvested stock to a stock plan in the acquiring company. Again, this will vary by plan and transaction.


7. I still have a lot of questions. How can I learn more?


Your manager or someone in your company’s HR department can likely provide more details about your company’s plan – and the benefits you qualify for under the plan. You should also consult your financial planner or tax advisor to ensure you understand how stock grants, vesting events, exercising and selling affect your personal tax situation.

Images courtesy of iStockphoto, DNY59, Flickr, Vicki’s Pics

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The forever recession (and the coming revolution)


There are actually two recessions:

The first is the cyclical one, the one that inevitably comes and then inevitably goes. There's plenty of evidence that intervention can shorten it, and also indications that overdoing a response to it is a waste or even harmful.

The other recession, though, the one with the loss of "good factory jobs" and systemic unemployment--I fear that this recession is here forever.

Why do we believe that jobs where we are paid really good money to do work that can be systemized, written in a manual and/or exported are going to come back ever? The internet has squeezed inefficiencies out of many systems, and the ability to move work around, coordinate activity and digitize data all combine to eliminate a wide swath of the jobs the industrial age created.

There's a race to the bottom, one where communities fight to suspend labor and environmental rules in order to become the world's cheapest supplier. The problem with the race to the bottom is that you might win...

Factories were at the center of the industrial age. Buildings where workers came together to efficiently craft cars, pottery, insurance policies and organ transplants--these are job-centric activities, places where local inefficiencies are trumped by the gains from mass production and interchangeable parts. If local labor costs the industrialist more, he has to pay it, because what choice does he have?

No longer. If it can be systemized, it will be. If the pressured middleman can find a cheaper source, she will. If the unaffiliated consumer can save a nickel by clicking over here or over there, then that's what's going to happen.

It was the inefficiency caused by geography that permitted local workers to earn a better wage, and it was the inefficiency of imperfect communication that allowed companies to charge higher prices.

The industrial age, the one that started with the industrial revolution, is fading away. It is no longer the growth engine of the economy and it seems absurd to imagine that great pay for replaceable work is on the horizon.

This represents a significant discontinuity, a life-changing disappointment for hard-working people who are hoping for stability but are unlikely to get it. It's a recession, the recession of a hundred years of the growth of the industrial complex.

I'm not a pessimist, though, because the new revolution, the revolution of connection, creates all sorts of new productivity and new opportunities. Not for repetitive factory work, though, not for the sort of thing ADP measures. Most of the wealth created by this revolution doesn't look like a job, not a full time one anyway.

When everyone has a laptop and connection to the world, then everyone owns a factory. Instead of coming together physically, we have the ability to come together virtually, to earn attention, to connect labor and resources, to deliver value.

Stressful? Of course it is. No one is trained in how to do this, in how to initiate, to visualize, to solve interesting problems and then deliver. Some see the new work as a hodgepodge of little projects, a pale imitation of a 'real' job. Others realize that this is a platform for a kind of art, a far more level playing field in which owning a factory isn't a birthright for a tiny minority but something that hundreds of millions of people have the chance to do.

Gears are going to be shifted regardless. In one direction is lowered expectations and plenty of burger flipping... in the other is a race to the top, in which individuals who are awaiting instructions begin to give them instead.

The future feels a lot more like marketing--it's impromptu, it's based on innovation and inspiration, and it involves connections between and among people--and a lot less like factory work, in which you do what you did yesterday, but faster and cheaper.

This means we may need to change our expectations, change our training and change how we engage with the future. Still, it's better than fighting for a status quo that is no longer. The good news is clear: every forever recession is followed by a lifetime of growth from the next thing...

Job creation is a false idol. The future is about gigs and assets and art and an ever-shifting series of partnerships and projects. It will change the fabric of our society along the way. No one is demanding that we like the change, but the sooner we see it and set out to become an irreplaceable linchpin, the faster the pain will fade, as we get down to the work that needs to be (and now can be) done.

This revolution is at least as big as the last one, and the last one changed everything.

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Facebook TV Show Stars You & Your Friends



Warner Bros. will launch an experimental live-action show next month that will run exclusively on Facebook and incorporate information from your profile to put you and your friends into select scenes.

The show, called Aim High, is story of a young man who is a high school student by day and a government operative by night. McG, of Charlie’s Angels fame, will direct the series, which makes its debut on October 18 on Facebook and Cambio.com.

Claiming to be the first-ever “social series” by a Hollywood studio, Aim High will employ Facebook technology so that your photos, friends and other information in your profile shows up in the background scenes. It’s a feature that has been used by Mentos, and True Blood, among others. For example, in some scenes, your photo might appear in a student body election poster and your name might be scrawled in graffiti on the bathroom wall. Viewers can also share comments and tweets about the show.

While more networks are trying their hand at so-called transmedia storytelling, using Facebook as a test bed for new properties may be smart. But incorporating profile data could distract from the action more than it adds to it.

Would you watch a show on Facebook? Does the profile info angle interest you? Let us know in the comments.

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Twitter Revenue to Hit $400 Million By 2013 [STUDY]



The success of Twitter‘s Promoted Products will propel the company into $400 million in revenue in 2013 compared to $45 million last year, says a new report.

Twitter will earn $139.5 million this year, a 210% jump over last year, according to eMarketer. Debra Aho Williamson, principal analyst at eMarketer, credited Promoted Products’ success for the rosy estimate.

“Since their debut in April 2010, Twitter’s Promoted Products have proven successful in the U.S.,” Williamson said in a statement from eMarketer. “Marketers have shown solid engagement rates with Twitter advertising — in some cases better than those on Facebook — despite Twitter’s relatively smaller audience.”

Twitter has 100 million active users compared to 800 million for Facebook.

The growth estimate for Twitter in 2011 is downgraded from eMarketer’s previous prediction of $150 million in revenues in January, a function of Twitter’s slower-than-expected rollout of various ad initiatives, including a self-serve ad platform and ad sales offices abroad. Twitter just created a sales staff in the UK– its first foreign office — this month, which is why 96% of Twitter’s ad revenues will come from the U.S. this year, eMarketer predicts. The researcher says that by 2013, 88% of revenues will come from the U.S.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Shawncampbell

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Fall TV Premieres: Who Won the Social Media Wars?


x factor image


Fall marks a whole new season of television show premieres. As shows battle to win the airwaves, tracking platform SocialGuide has figured out which shows won the social media wars.

SocialGuide tracked Facebook comments, tweets, overall followers and a variety of other stats on 12 of the most hotly anticipated Fall TV premieres, including The X Factor, New Girl, Pan Am, Charlie’s Angels and The Playboy Club.

Unsurprisingly, the big winner was The X Factor, which had more than 50,000 unique viewers and more than 100,000 comments across all social networks. This is significantly higher than New Girl, which took the number two spot with 24,634 uniques and 31,553 comments. Pan Am, which came in third, had 11,645 unique viewers and 17,535 comments.

This looks like a huge disparity, but it’s impressive that both New Girl and Pan Am fared so well against The X Factor given its huge promotional push, longer run time and inherently more social format.

So how does this compare to overall primetime ratings? The X Factor‘s Wednesday and Thursday premieres ranked 19th and 20th in Nielsen’s TV ratings, while New Girl and Pan Am did not crack the top 25. The most-watched new show in the rankings was 2 Broke Girls, which came in fourth.

SEE ALSO: Fall TV Goes Social: 27 New Shows to Watch

The number of comments-per-follower for all 12 shows was fairly consistent. The lowest (2 Broke Girls) averaged 1.22 comments per follower whereas the highest (The X Factor) averaged just 2.09 comments per follower.

Is social TV here to stay? Did you think these numbers would be higher or lower? Let us know in the comments.

Image courtesy of The X Factor

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