I'm doing my best to summarize what we talked about in class. If I forgot something, please feel free to add in text or comment at the bottom of the page:

Course grading scale:

> SM immersion: 20% - grading rubric

During the course of the semester, we'll try out several social media services & tools, just to get a feel for them & to blog about them. Please inform everyone else when you find a new service, what it is/does, and what your username is, so we can all follow each other. You can use your personal blog or your Ning blog for this.

We will use the following services regularly throughout the semester:

• the TECH 621 ning network
• Twitter
• a personal blog (it can be public or private; you can use a professional blog, and your Ning blog for announcements that are only relevant to the class. Your choice, just let everyone know by posting this info to your Ning profile page)
• RSS feed reader (e.g. Google Reader)

> SM wiki (define, classify + research knowledge base): 20%- grading rubric

We'll work together to create a 2-part wiki:

Part 1: classify available social media tools

Part 2: create a knowledge base of research reports on the impact of social media on culture, society, organizations, work, individuals, etc.

> Personal blog: 20%- grading rubric

Each student will write a personal blog (readable by only class members, or open - your choice). The blog will be professional, which means you'll write about work (and a bit of work-related fun), not your personal life, food and movie reviews (unless they're relevant to your work).

Expected blog posts:

• notes on readings - YOUR takeaways - What are the 3-5 points that are important to YOU? What did YOU take away from the reading? What did it mean to YOU? How is it relevant to YOU? What questions & critiques do you have?
• notes on social media tools - identify, write about, and review social media tools you come across.

Suggested blog posts:

• Ideas, thoughts, opinions, commentary on anything you see/read/hear that is or can be related to class and/or your work. For example, you may view the videos I posted on the Ning network, and write your thoughts about them. Or you can post your thoughts/opinions about something that was discussed in class, something that happened, etc. You can post videos, photos, etc.
• Some mix of personal or humorous posts ad spice to your blog and show your humanity and complexity. Just keep it work-appropriate :)
• Questions, fears, unfinished ideas - blogs are most interesting when they document your thinking process rather than when they show a finished, polished "final paper."

Keep the writing simple, concise, clear, and grammatically correct. Remember, this is (part of) your online resume.

> Engagement: 10%- grading rubric

• informed & constructive contributions to class discussion, both in person and online
• share news, links, brief thoughts on Twitter
• build your online social network to extend beyond friends & family
• bring & assign reading about the impact of social media on context of your choice (we'll create a schedule)
• etiquette, professionalism, good attendance (please see the Course Policies page for more information)

> Final project: 30%- grading rubric

Each student or team of students will negotiate a final project topic, plan, structure, and format with the instructor. Below are the "ingredients" for the final project:

1. social media tool (pick one)

   +

2. context of your choice

   +

3. review of existing research

   +

4. Research Question

   +

5. research methods

   =

• Full original research project OR
• Extended research proposal (with pilot study) OR
• Business proposal OR
• Research-based social media application/tool/service

Steps toward final project:

1. idea presentation & class feedback
2. project proposal (1-2 drafts)
3. review of existing research
4. draft 1
5. draft 2

Final project possible formats:

• Research paper (conference or journal article)
• Business plan
• Multimedia project
• ??? (whatever your field defines as success)