Software as a Mission
Software can move so fast that customers are not only not buying a static product anymore, they are also not subscribing to a defined service, they are now believers in a mission and hanging on for the ride.
Facebook is a Serial “Feature Killer.”
We need to stay committed to the EdTech ecosystem, and shouldn’t let ourselves get lost in the hype of the next great iteration of Pinterest or whatever other consumer technology is raising eyebrows.
New iPhone and Mobile Versions of the Schools App Released!
Inigral Launches iPhone and Mobile Versions of Popular Schools App, Offering Proven, Innovative Ways to Connect with Students San Francisco, January 31, 2012—To help institutions maximize enrollment of students in the class of 2016, Inigral announced today the release of mobile and IPhone versions of its popular Schools App available to students at colleges and [...]
What’s happening with Facebook in College Admissions? (infographic)
We talk a lot about Facebook in the admissions process. Whether we’re covering how prospective students use it, how institutions are measuring it, or common complaints about it, I’ve learned that all the blogging in the world doesn’t always clearly articulate how we view current state of Facebook in admissions marketing. Fortunately we have a [...]
Making Social Media work for International Student Recruitment
Global Campus just released a whitepaper showing some surprising survey results for international student recruitment, and social media. Although conclusive results are up in the air, it shows more and more administrators are interested in leveraging social media to court and welcome international students. One of the benefits form the report states that social media can [...]
Correlation vs. Causation in Social Enrollment Management
It is likely correlation for everyone and causation for more than a handful of students: students who are more likely to enroll are also more likely to join the app AND the app is likely to have an effect on enrollment.
Startups vs Big Companies as Vendors
If the challenge is to invent a new product line or to solve a problem not yet solved, the Startup will likely win. A small team of smart people completely focused is more likely to succeed than a large company with many competing interests.
Introducing a New Face to the Higher Ed Community
With much enthusiasm I announce that, as of October 19th, 2011 we have hired a new CEO, Jamie, Glenn.
Facebook Developer Conference Three Key Takeaways
For the first time ever (last month) Facebook had 500 million users in one day. 1. Facebook is launching a redesigned profile called Timeline. The marketing is around “All your stories. All your apps. Express who you are.” The original profile focused on basic stats, but it was really only the first five minutes of [...]
Does Social Media Affect Student Diversity?
“The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.” – Mark Twain In the fall of 2011 there was a New York Times Editorial bashing Roommate Matching technology (like RoomSync) as one of the many new technologies that take the randomness [...]
Introducing “Startup Alley” for Educause 2011
Educause 2011 has decided to create a Startup Alley on their Exhibition Floor from October 18 – 21st in Philadelphia. This marks the first time the biggest conference in Higher Education has carved out a special area and created a unique deal for startups. Download the flier and the guidelines. If you have any questions, [...]
Summary of Advanced Trends in Mobile and Social Media
Here are some summaries of presentations we attended at Noel-Levitz NCSRM 2011.
Should there be a Sophomore Student Experience?
Student Retention is a passion of mine (as you may have noticed) and there were two talks at the 2011 Noel-Levitz conference which gave me some new ideas. One of my favorites was Julie Tetley’s talk (summarized below) which highlights the Sophomore Experience. She brings up some really great points, and I see this as a large issue that hasn’t gotten [...]
EduWeb Recap: Lessons Learned from Texas A&M’s Social Media Scavenger Hunt
Texas A&M set out to bring divergent social media platforms together to build a brand through their Scavenger Hunt.
Highlights: Predictors of Degree Outcomes for Community College Students
This kind of ethnographic research following students along their pathways for five years and pulling out trends – while helpful – does little to expose what innovations could be made to improve the circumstance of students found to be in the, let’s say, groups with attributes correlating to unfortunate tendencies. I just hope the smart researchers will follow on with ways to improve students in the unfortunate circumstances. Simply being more selective at the beginning is not an option for most community colleges.
Dear Canada: Better Recruitment This Year, Better Data Next Year
“We are excited to integrate our higher education research expertise into Inigral’s innovative and highly successful social community product and add thoughtful research data and analysis to Inigral’s product,” said Philip Bliss, Chief Innovation Officer at Academica Group.
Mentoring Seedcamp
One of my favorite activities every year is mentoring at Seedcamp, an international start-up incubator based out of London with strong companies coming from Europe.
Inigral Receives Program-Related Investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Inigral Inc. announced today that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has made a $2 million program-related investment (PRI) in the education technology company. Students use the application to obtain and share information about the academic and social environment at their school, as well as to find other students with similar interests, experiences or course loads and to organize face-to-face meetings.
In Defense of Sabbatical
I’ve heard a few stories in the wake of all the budget shortfalls questioning the economic productivity of the sabbatical. While I agree with that question at colleges focused on teaching and the liberal arts, for those research universities and high caliber programs who attract the brightest scientists and technologists in their field, Sabbatical is [...]
The “Hook” of Social Networks and Social Media
People that post things on the internet for others to see are subject to the extraordinarily powerful force of positive, negative, or no feedback at all for an indefinite and infinite amount of time. This is the first time in human history that this is so, and frankly, our neurons are not wired to handle this kind of uncertainty. In fact, humans are highly motivated to seek out certainty and security in regards to social acceptance, inclusion, and praise.
Intentional Purgatory – the new place for Marketing and Communications
Marketers, you are now in “Intentional Purgatory.” I call it this because you’re now in a box just made for you – a box that people “intend” to get around to looking at, but most likely never will in any way that will command their attention for your message.
You Already Spend Money on Social Media. A Lot of It.
In the CASE Social Media Survey released in July 2010, there’s a strong indication that you’re already spending a large sum of money at your institution on social media. 20% of institutions report between 6-10 full time staff work on social media, 6% report between 10-20, and 10% report more than 20 full time staff are working on social media.
Rally: Start Up Weekend for Education by the Kauffman Foundation!
We’re honored to help out the Kauffman Foundation round up entrepreneurs, hackers, and technologists for it’s Startup Weekend focused on Education.
Location-Based Services Will Rock Higher Ed
Imagine if you could see check-ins to libraries and student activity centers; imagine if you could see trends in social habits. The campus is a natural place for mobile-device mediated friend making. People freely friend on Facebook and all of these services. Increasing the frequency that students bump into one another in virtual spaces (which double as real ones with location-based services) drives how connected they feel to one another, even in real life.
