Syllabus+&+Assignments

=**Social Media Platform & Tools** = Winter Term, 2012

=Course Objectives = This course offers practical, hands-on exposure to a number of social media technologies. Emphasis will be to provide an in-depth understanding of key technical issues involved in managing the technical aspects of social media projects and campaigns from planning through deployment and post-launch maintenance. Students will also gain hands-on experience with popular social media platforms.

**Topics include:**
 * Definition, history and classification of social media tools and technologies;
 * Overview and use cases for several popular social media sites;
 * Technical overview of the features, differences, prerequisites for use, design and architecture, legal issues, and considerations for selection of open-source, closed-source, commercial, hosted/SaaS, and self-hosted custom solutions;
 * Data exchange, interoperability, and the roles of RSS, XML, and API’s;
 * Planning and identifying technical specifications a social media site: understanding audience, selecting features, organizing content, and organizing interaction;
 * Behind-the-scene technical tour of the code, database, and presentation layers of Drupal, a popular platform for custom social media sites;
 * Basic configuration, management and customization of specific platforms such as Drupal, Wordpress, MediaWiki;
 * Requirements and considerations for self-hosted sites: server and hosting requirements, privacy and security issues, database administration and data recovery, migration between systems; patch management and upgrades
 * Analytics: Measuring site activity, usage, engagement and success

**Prerequisites:**
 * Fluency browsing the web
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Experience contributing to popular social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Recommendations Prior to Class:** = = =<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Required Textbook = ====<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">There will be no required textbook for this class. The instructor will provide handouts, links to resources, and lists of supplemental resources throughout the course. ====
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A working knowledge of basic HTML is encouraged. The following free online tutorial is sufficient: []
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A simple understanding of what databases are, why they are important, and the role they play in web technologies will suffice. It may be helpful to read the first four sections of this free tutorial: [] (The useful sections are the introduction, What is a Database, How it Works, Security, and MySQL Tools).
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">For those of you who wish to learn to manage your own social media website, some CSS knowledge will make it possible for you to gain deeper control over the look and feel of a website. To gain more understanding and experience with CSS, see []

=<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Instructor =

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Samantha Moscheck
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">sammoscheck@gmail.com

__<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Office Hours: __<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> I will be available prior to each class, from 5pm to 6pm, for private discussion or questions. I may not be available outside of my office hours, though you are welcome to send email to me anytime.

=<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Classroom Etiquette = =<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The classroom environment is no exception to common professional courtesy. Please adhere to the following basic guidelines: = > =<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Assessment Criteria = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Students will be assessed based on attendance, class participation, assignments, papers, and project work. Students will be required to attend 8 out of 10 sessions.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Participate deeply in classroom discussions while being mindful of the need for all students to have an opportunity for participation. Help to encourage those who may be more quiet by not dominating the discussion; each individual has something meaningful to contribute.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Be respectful of other students and avoid distracting them and hindering their opportunity to learn.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Be patient and courteous to other students when they ask a question or make a statement, even when the subject may seem obvious to you.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">If you must leave early or arrive late, please try to sit near the door. You can move to your preferred location during a class break.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Turn off your cellular phones. If you must, put them on “vibrate” and leave the classroom if you need to take a call.

=<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Grading = <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Grading is Pass/Fail based on the following:


 * ** Criteria ** || ** Explanation ** || ** Points ** ||
 * Attendance || Students will be required to attend 8 out of 10 sessions. If you must miss more than two sessions, instructor approval is required and any make-up work must be provided by the beginning of Week 9’s class. || n/a ||
 * Participation || In-class participation, including a Twitter back-channel. Consideration will be given to participation between classes via the Twitter feed. Participation points may be docked if etiquette guidelines are not followed.

**1 point per week.** || 10 points ||
 * Feedback || Weekly Minute Paper – one-two brief paragraphs about what impacted you in class this week. All comments and feedback are welcome. Written in the last 5 minutes of class and emailed to the instructor before you leave. Emails sent after the end of class will be discarded.

Subject line should read: Last Name Minute Paper Class Date (i.e. Moscheck Minute Paper 1/4)

**1 point per week.** || 10 points || Presentations must cover the following: Additional points will be awarded for
 * Presentation || Each week, up to two teams of 2 students each will deliver a 15-20 minute presentation about an assigned social media platform. Students will choose how to deliver their presentations (slides are not required).
 * Introduction to the tool and what it does **(5 points)**
 * At least three reasonable use cases **(5 points)**
 * A tutorial of the example website(s) **(5 points)**
 * Questions and answers **(5 points)**
 * Organization and clarity **(5 points)**
 * Quality of information, including accuracy and thoroughness **(5 points)**
 * Quality of tutorial – did it successfully teach students how to get started using this tool **(5 points)**


 * This presentation is a large part of your grade because you will take on the role of teacher to enhance your learning as well as that of your classmates. Please provide your classmates with your best work. ** || 35 points ||
 * Hootsuite Dashboard || Students will set up their own Hootsuite dashboard. Specific grading criteria will be provided.

Project due date: 6pm February 22nd || 5 points ||
 * Analytics Report || Students will be placed into groups and each group will be assigned to a nonprofit agency and given Google Analytics access to their URL.

Each group will work together to: > || 25 points
 * Interpret the Google Analytics reports and provide a helpful snapshot of your findings along with an interpretation and explanation of the reports;
 * Review the web URL to further inform your thoughts and understanding of the strengths and weaknesses you encounter;
 * Develop written recommendations for the agency with ideas for making improvements to the website and/or the social media strategy;
 * Reports which also include a review of the agency’s social media pages/sites and recommendations for better integrating their web presense with their social media strategy will be awarded bonus points.

Plus up to 10 bonus points ||
 * Final Paper || Write a 3-5 page paper that clearly describes which of the social media platforms and tools we covered in class you plan to incorporate into your work (choose your career or hobby), why you would find them useful, and how you would use them.

Bonus points for covering additional tools not covered during class.

Paper due at the start of the final class (March 7) || 15 points

Up to 3 bonus points || = = = = =Homework and Deliverables=

Any weekly homework will be completed and handed in no later than 9:00 PM the night before class, unless otherwise announced or agreed upon by the students and the instructors. Students may require an average of up to 6 hours during the week to complete assignments, reading and any additional research.

=Class Structure=

Each class will:
 * Open with a brief class discussion of reading assignments from the prior class and any resources shared online or via twitter by students since the last class;
 * Include a lecture, presentation, or demonstration by the instructor. This will provide students with the necessary exposure to the topics in this course, and is an important aspect of the program. We will be covering a lot of material.
 * Include up to two student presentations which cover specific types of social media sites and include live demonstrations and question/answer sessions;
 * Close with the writing of a short “5-minute paper” focused upon insight, discovery, and feedback for each week.

Additionally, classes may include: = = Disability Accommodation
 * Guest speakers
 * Learning activities, sometimes individual and sometimes group, whenever possible
 * Class discussion and break-out discussions
 * Homework assignments and follow-up

The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. For information or to request disability accommodation contact:
 * Disability Services Office: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu.

> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Social Media Platforms** team assignments and sign-up || **Homework due January 12:** > [|The History & Evolution of Social Media] > [|A Brief History of Social Media] > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Class Surprise Activity**
 * || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Topic** || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Assignment** ||
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 1** January 4, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Welcome to Class**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Introductions
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Overview of course, assignments and expectations.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Define “social media” for the purpose of this course
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Group Activity: Social Media Matrix
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Review the types of social media sites and features
 * Sign up for twitter.com and check out the #UWSMC feed
 * Join this wiki.
 * S ign up for a presentation here: [|https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AghK4CiBe7W1dEc3NnlSaHh0anpaaU00dmhOd2VQSVE&hl=en_US#gid=2]
 * Review the instructions and grading criteria for these presentations on the Presentations page of this wiki.
 * Add your name to the Roster on this wiki.
 * Review the Syllabus, note any questions or concerns, and raise them to me by January 12.
 * Read the following articles and come to the next class prepared for a class discussion about them:
 * Participation points for finding other cool material about the history and evolution of social media, sharing it on the Twitter feed, monitoring/reading content shared by other classmates, and engaging about it via Twitter or the class discussion to take place January 12. ||
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 2** January 11, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Types of Social Media Systems**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Commercial
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Hosted / SaaS
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Self-hosted systems
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Open source systems
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Considerations for selection

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team Presentations – Publishing** > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Blogging & Microblogging
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Photo & Video-sharing

> || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">January 25, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Guest Speaker** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Chris Tugwell, Puget Soundoff ([])
 * Privacy article
 * <span class="wiki_link_ext">[|Cloud computing article]
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 3**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team Presentations - Networks** > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments: || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb 1, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Guest Speaker** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Natasha Friedus, Creative Narrations (http://mappingvoices.org)
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Social & Professional Networks
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Niche Networks
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 4**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team** **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Presentations - Maps ** > > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments: * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">TBA || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb 8, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> **Planning a Custom Social Media Site**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Location-based social networks
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Location-based resources
 * Group Discussions**
 * Compare/contrast the use cases provided for custom and hosted platforms
 * Consider how business goals impact tech decision-making
 * Would a custom site be required to accomplish the guest presenter goals? If not, which hosted platforms could be used and how? If yes, why and what features could not otherwise be replicated?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 5**

> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Managing a Custom Social Media Site** > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> **Technical Considerations** > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team Presentations - Information** discussion topics: - revenue streams affiliate services - social bookmarking for internal knowledge management - running contests through pintarest - marketing your pintarest strategy || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Site audience
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Site navigation
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Technical requirements
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Organizing content
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Organizing interaction
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">User management
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Content management
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Comments & Moderation
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">SPAM, automated signups, and other malicious use
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Customization
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Licensing
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Mobile integration & support
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Privacy, security & data
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Migrating between systems
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Social news & bookmarks
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">RSS & Lifestreaming

[|Differentiating Between Social Media and Community Management]

[|Planning a Custom Web App] || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb 15, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Custom (self-hosted) Systems Overview** >> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> **Team Presentation – Crowdsourcing** > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Assignments:
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 6**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Overview of MediaWiki, Wordpress and Drupal
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Server requirements
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Installation and configuration overview
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Behind-the-scenes tour
 * The code layer
 * The presentation layer
 * The database layer
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Knowledge
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Innovation

Hootsuite Preparation:
 * Watch []
 * Set up a Premium (FREE TRIAL 30 days) Hootsuite account
 * Connect to your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and FourSquare accounts

Understanding CMS Systems: > [] || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb 22, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Hootsuite** > <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> **Hootsuite discussion & activity** **Team Presentations** > || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments:
 * Read []
 * Find technical requirements here: [|MediaWiki] -[|Wordpress] [|Drupal]
 * Watch this 1-hour video to gain exposure to the architecture of a CMS (file structure, database, theme layer, etc).
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 7**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">What and why
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">How to use it (demo)
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Presentations & mindmaps
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Branding & design services
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">TBA

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Individual Assignment: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">* Set up any feeds of interest about social media topics and share with your team mates || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Feb 29, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**6:00 - Visit from Mala Chandra, instructor for Course 3**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Set up your Hootsuite Dashboard for your business objectives
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 8**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Using Google Analytics:** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">A popular analytical tool for measuring site activity, usage, engagement, and success

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Working sessions:** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Break into Analytics assignment teams and build your action plan for completing the homework.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Class discussion** and question/answer sessions

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">** Team Presentations – Business ** - Reviews- Monitoring || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Team Assignment:- Google Analytics project; presentations will be next week <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**DUE TODAY:** Hootsuite Dashboard || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Mar 7, 6-9 pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team Presentations**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 9**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Additional Topics:** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">*** Writing to engage** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">*** SEO topics** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**One Google Analytics Presentation (10 minutes)** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Google Analytics Project Team Huddle (20 m)** || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Reading Assignments:- TBA || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Mar 14, 6-9pm || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Team Presentations**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Week 10**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**Group Project Presentations:****Google Analytics Reports** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**10 minutes each**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Possibly Kred vs Klout, Phelps (10 minutes) || <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">**DUE TODAY:****Final Papers**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Note: This Syllabus is subject change.
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">DUE TODAY: Google Analytics project ** ||