Sunday, October 25, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Are Graduates Un-professional
Today’s college graduates do not exhibit as much professionalism as their employers expect of them, according to a new study from York College of Pennsylvania.
As part of the small liberal arts college’s effort to rebrand itself as a place where “professionalism” is cultivated, its newly created Center for Professional Excellence commissioned a survey of more than 500 human resources professionals and business leaders to gauge not only what they think “professionalism” means but also how well the recent college graduates they have hired exhibit it.
The results of the survey, released Friday, suggest that colleges need to change how they prepare their students for the working world, particularly by reinforcing soft skills like honoring workplace etiquette and having a positive demeanor.
The survey indicates that “there is a widely held sentiment that not all college graduates are displaying professionalism upon entering the work force.” More than 37 percent of the respondents reported that “less than half of [the recent graduates they have hired] exhibit professionalism in their first year." The average employer indicated that slightly more than 51 percent of his or her recent hires exhibit “professionalism.”
In clarifying what exactly this means, about 88 percent of the respondents “think of professionalism as being related to a person rather than the position.” To that end, the traits or behaviors mentioned most by the respondents as being characteristic of professional employees were “personal interaction skills, including courtesy and respect"; “the ability to communicate, which includes listening skills"; “a work ethic which includes being motivated and working on a task until it is complete"; and “appearance.”
Similarly, the traits or behaviors most associated by the respondents with “unprofessionalism” included “appearance, which includes attire, tattoos, and piercings"; “poor communication skills including poor grammar"; “poor work ethic"; and “poor attitude.”
To further define the gap between employer expectations and student realities, the study asked respondents “to rate traits according to both their importance when considering a person for a position requiring professionalism and the extent to which they are present in first year college educated employees.” Upon analysis of these on a matrix, the study notes that the quality most prevalent in new college graduates -- “concern about opportunities for advancement” -- matters the least to employers.
Among the traits or behaviors employers value most, and that they believe are most deficient in the recent graduates they have hired, include “accepts personal responsibility for decision and actions," “is able to act independently," and “has a clear sense of direction and purpose.” The study notes that colleges need to put a particular focus on imparting these traits to their students.
Still, there is some indication that not everyone surveyed believes the “professionalism” of their recent graduate hires has significantly declined in recent years. More than 53 percent of the respondents reported the percentage of those exhibiting “professionalism” has remained the same over the past five years. Nearly a third, however, indicate that it has taken a nosedive in recent years. The most popular reasons for this grim outlook include “an increased sense of entitlement,” “new cultural values,” and “a changed work ethic.”
David Polk, the professor of behavioral science at York whose research group conducted this survey, said he was unsure how much the responses indicated some sort of “generational phenomenon,” acknowledging the age-old disappointment adults throughout history have often expressed in the younger generation. He noted with disappointment that the survey failed to ask the ages of those responding. Still, he noted that, generally, those responding were significantly older than the recent graduates they were asked to assess.
“One of the things you’ve got to ask yourself is, are we just a bunch of dinosaurs looking at young people saying, ‘What I’m seeing here is inappropriate,’ ” mused Polk, who made sure to note he was 61. “Are the changes in attitude here generational or are they lifestyle changes? Will you people eventually take on conservative professionalism or have things just changed? We’ll have to do more studies to find out. For instance, the freewheeling baby boomers of the 1960s are the ones who filled out our survey today. We can be sure which it is with just this one study.”
Polk’s students, who have been discussing his research findings in class, are of two minds about what employers are saying about their generation. On one hand, Polk said he has students balk at the notion that certain tattoos or piercings might make them seem “unprofessional.” Conversely, he said nearly all of them admit to having a greater sense of “entitlement.” While Polk said that most students did not think of this as being problematic, he expressed some concern in this attitude.
“We tell our children, ‘You’re all worth something,’ and ‘None of you are losers,’ ” Polk said. “I’ve asked my class, ‘Do you really think you’re all winners in everything?’ I mean, you’ve got to be mediocre in something. This attitude that everyone’s going to play on the team and that everyone is going to be recognized for something is out there. It’s great that people have positive self-esteem, but I can’t help but think that we live in Lake Wobegon [the fictional town of A Prairie Home Companion fame], where every student is ‘above average.’ ”
Despite this, Polk offered a number of suggestions about what colleges can do in the classroom to improve the “professionalism” of their graduates.
“I think if you can get professors to buy into the concept, which is critical, then professors can serve as role models,” Polk said. “For instance, the last thing I would do is wear blue jeans to class. I think that’s unprofessional and not something I’d wear in a position of presumed authority. … Also, some professors will say, ‘Just call me by my first name.’ There's no way I think that’s proper behavior in my classroom. It creates this wonderfully false impression that professors are less authority figures than they are friends.”
Professors can lead by example in other ways, too, Polk continued.
“Let’s just ignore parents for a second, and let’s call students out on improper behavior in the classroom,” Polk said. “You’ll probably notice from the study, a lot of what people are talking about here is soft skills like attitude, demeanor and respect. As a professor, most of us see our jobs as conveying knowledge and making sure our students comprehend it. I’m not sure how many would respond that it is also their job to help a student develop good behavior. There’s this moral authority that some professors get uncomfortable with. For this to work successfully, when a professor calls out a student’s behavior, the administration should be there to back them up immediately and say, ‘Your behavior is wrong.’ ”
In the meantime, York’s Center for Professional Excellence has gotten in on the act. It will host a number of seminars throughout the academic year with employers talking about expectations of their employees and other workplace issues. Polk said he would like students to be required to attend a certain number of these seminars throughout their college careers. Additionally, he noted he could see the potential for York to create something akin to a general education course focusing on “professionalism.”
“If we can truly embrace this thing, it’ll be a major challenge,” said Polk of York’s effort to rebrand itself. “I can just see me going to faculty and saying to them, ‘Your blue jeans are inappropriate,’ and them telling me where I can go."
— David Moltz
As part of the small liberal arts college’s effort to rebrand itself as a place where “professionalism” is cultivated, its newly created Center for Professional Excellence commissioned a survey of more than 500 human resources professionals and business leaders to gauge not only what they think “professionalism” means but also how well the recent college graduates they have hired exhibit it.
The results of the survey, released Friday, suggest that colleges need to change how they prepare their students for the working world, particularly by reinforcing soft skills like honoring workplace etiquette and having a positive demeanor.
The survey indicates that “there is a widely held sentiment that not all college graduates are displaying professionalism upon entering the work force.” More than 37 percent of the respondents reported that “less than half of [the recent graduates they have hired] exhibit professionalism in their first year." The average employer indicated that slightly more than 51 percent of his or her recent hires exhibit “professionalism.”
In clarifying what exactly this means, about 88 percent of the respondents “think of professionalism as being related to a person rather than the position.” To that end, the traits or behaviors mentioned most by the respondents as being characteristic of professional employees were “personal interaction skills, including courtesy and respect"; “the ability to communicate, which includes listening skills"; “a work ethic which includes being motivated and working on a task until it is complete"; and “appearance.”
Similarly, the traits or behaviors most associated by the respondents with “unprofessionalism” included “appearance, which includes attire, tattoos, and piercings"; “poor communication skills including poor grammar"; “poor work ethic"; and “poor attitude.”
To further define the gap between employer expectations and student realities, the study asked respondents “to rate traits according to both their importance when considering a person for a position requiring professionalism and the extent to which they are present in first year college educated employees.” Upon analysis of these on a matrix, the study notes that the quality most prevalent in new college graduates -- “concern about opportunities for advancement” -- matters the least to employers.
Among the traits or behaviors employers value most, and that they believe are most deficient in the recent graduates they have hired, include “accepts personal responsibility for decision and actions," “is able to act independently," and “has a clear sense of direction and purpose.” The study notes that colleges need to put a particular focus on imparting these traits to their students.
Still, there is some indication that not everyone surveyed believes the “professionalism” of their recent graduate hires has significantly declined in recent years. More than 53 percent of the respondents reported the percentage of those exhibiting “professionalism” has remained the same over the past five years. Nearly a third, however, indicate that it has taken a nosedive in recent years. The most popular reasons for this grim outlook include “an increased sense of entitlement,” “new cultural values,” and “a changed work ethic.”
David Polk, the professor of behavioral science at York whose research group conducted this survey, said he was unsure how much the responses indicated some sort of “generational phenomenon,” acknowledging the age-old disappointment adults throughout history have often expressed in the younger generation. He noted with disappointment that the survey failed to ask the ages of those responding. Still, he noted that, generally, those responding were significantly older than the recent graduates they were asked to assess.
“One of the things you’ve got to ask yourself is, are we just a bunch of dinosaurs looking at young people saying, ‘What I’m seeing here is inappropriate,’ ” mused Polk, who made sure to note he was 61. “Are the changes in attitude here generational or are they lifestyle changes? Will you people eventually take on conservative professionalism or have things just changed? We’ll have to do more studies to find out. For instance, the freewheeling baby boomers of the 1960s are the ones who filled out our survey today. We can be sure which it is with just this one study.”
Polk’s students, who have been discussing his research findings in class, are of two minds about what employers are saying about their generation. On one hand, Polk said he has students balk at the notion that certain tattoos or piercings might make them seem “unprofessional.” Conversely, he said nearly all of them admit to having a greater sense of “entitlement.” While Polk said that most students did not think of this as being problematic, he expressed some concern in this attitude.
“We tell our children, ‘You’re all worth something,’ and ‘None of you are losers,’ ” Polk said. “I’ve asked my class, ‘Do you really think you’re all winners in everything?’ I mean, you’ve got to be mediocre in something. This attitude that everyone’s going to play on the team and that everyone is going to be recognized for something is out there. It’s great that people have positive self-esteem, but I can’t help but think that we live in Lake Wobegon [the fictional town of A Prairie Home Companion fame], where every student is ‘above average.’ ”
Despite this, Polk offered a number of suggestions about what colleges can do in the classroom to improve the “professionalism” of their graduates.
“I think if you can get professors to buy into the concept, which is critical, then professors can serve as role models,” Polk said. “For instance, the last thing I would do is wear blue jeans to class. I think that’s unprofessional and not something I’d wear in a position of presumed authority. … Also, some professors will say, ‘Just call me by my first name.’ There's no way I think that’s proper behavior in my classroom. It creates this wonderfully false impression that professors are less authority figures than they are friends.”
Professors can lead by example in other ways, too, Polk continued.
“Let’s just ignore parents for a second, and let’s call students out on improper behavior in the classroom,” Polk said. “You’ll probably notice from the study, a lot of what people are talking about here is soft skills like attitude, demeanor and respect. As a professor, most of us see our jobs as conveying knowledge and making sure our students comprehend it. I’m not sure how many would respond that it is also their job to help a student develop good behavior. There’s this moral authority that some professors get uncomfortable with. For this to work successfully, when a professor calls out a student’s behavior, the administration should be there to back them up immediately and say, ‘Your behavior is wrong.’ ”
In the meantime, York’s Center for Professional Excellence has gotten in on the act. It will host a number of seminars throughout the academic year with employers talking about expectations of their employees and other workplace issues. Polk said he would like students to be required to attend a certain number of these seminars throughout their college careers. Additionally, he noted he could see the potential for York to create something akin to a general education course focusing on “professionalism.”
“If we can truly embrace this thing, it’ll be a major challenge,” said Polk of York’s effort to rebrand itself. “I can just see me going to faculty and saying to them, ‘Your blue jeans are inappropriate,’ and them telling me where I can go."
— David Moltz
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Link to AP Writing Style
http://www.bu.edu/com/writingprgm/ap_styleguide1.pdf
The link is above. Paste it into your browser and gather the information.
Dr. VP
The link is above. Paste it into your browser and gather the information.
Dr. VP
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
NBA Players return to college.
Russell Westbrook held the attention of an audience and an instructor, a familiar role for an N.B.A. player. Only, fellow students made up the crowd. And he was addressed by a teacher, not a coach.
Phil Long/Associated Press
Chris Paul, right, with his son and LeBron James at a charity event. Paul took classes at Wake Forest in the off-season.
Westbrook, a second-year guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, walked in late to a history class this summer at U.C.L.A. As the N.B.A. opens its preseason, Westbrook was among about 45 players — 10 percent of the league — who had traded gym bags for backpacks in the off-season.
“The teacher just called my name out: ‘Hey, Mr. Westbrook. Nice to see you. Nice for you to show up,’ ” Westbrook said. “I had to walk all the way to the front and sit on the stage in front of the whole class the whole time. For two hours. I couldn’t go to sleep, couldn’t do nothing. For two hours.”
The N.B.A. union began tracking the classroom migration this year. Debbie Rothstein Murman, the director for career development for the union, said the number was much higher than in the past, although she does not have earlier numbers. For elite athletes, who command seven-figure salaries, returning to college is an investment and a hedge against what can be an uncertain future. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets resumed classes at Wake Forest, and Westbrook’s teammate Kevin Durant continued working toward his degree at Texas.
A league rule change in 2006 mandates that players be at least one year removed from high school and at least 19 to be drafted. For many players, that meant attending at least one year of college. The rule stopped the influx of players who entered the league directly from high school. But it might have had an inadvertent consequence: some are attempting to finish what they started.
“I had classes with regular students and went to study hall and caught the school bus to the gym,” Durant said. “It was everything I did when I was there before. I’m only two years removed from college and three years removed from high school. Everything came back pretty quick.”
The average annual salary in the N.B.A. is $5.85 million, and players are generally secure in the near term. Their retirement years can be completely different. An estimated 60 percent of N.B.A. players are broke within five years of retiring, and 78 percent of N.F.L. players are bankrupt or under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce within two years, according to a report by Sports Illustrated in March. The magazine also reported that many baseball players struggle financially after retirement.
“It’s not about necessarily needing to work from a financial standpoint, but it’s not the perspective we take with them,” Rothstein Murman said. “Basketball is one of their passions, but they have others. What do they need to equip themselves with their next passion when they finish basketball? Where are they going to make their next marks?”
Professional sports leagues and unions have emphasized education as one way of helping athletes prepare.
Major League Baseball established the Professional Baseball Scholarship Plan in the early 1960s to provide benefits and reimbursement to players, many of whom are drafted out of high school or by their junior year in college. From 1962 to 1999, 69.2 percent of baseball players returned to the classroom, said Pat Courtney, a spokesman for Major League Baseball.
Half of the N.F.L.’s players have college degrees — a greater percentage than in the N.B.A. or in baseball, because fewer football players declare professional eligibility as early. Nearly 100 players went back to college in the off-season, and the league conducts a management program with universities, including Harvard and Stanford. Players receive up to $15,000 for educational reimbursement.
The best basketball players generally depart college when their stock is highest, which often comes sooner rather than later in their university careers. About 21 percent of current N.B.A. players have undergraduate degrees, Rothstein Murman said. Some may not want to leave college early, but feel the responsibility of helping their families with financial burdens.
At the players union’s high school camp, players sign contracts that stipulate they will continue their education should they ever reach the pros before graduating from college.
Some players groaned when Rothstein Murman reminded them of it when they became rookies. The contract is largely symbolic, but some players take it seriously.
The Thunder and the Golden State Warriors each had three players enrolled in summer courses. While some are establishing building blocks for the future, others are fulfilling promises to loved ones or aiming to become the first member of a family to graduate from college.
“I have a younger brother, and it sets an example for him and how important it is,” said Westbrook, who declared for the N.B.A. after his sophomore season at U.C.L.A.
The lectures could be boring, he said, and it took an entire day to write one page of the first paper assigned to him. But he also had the benefit of attending a university where a number of N.B.A. players convened for pickup games. So Westbrook easily shuttled from the court to the classroom. He recently posted on Twitter that he had received all B’s in his summer classes.
Westbrook’s teammate Jeff Green resumed his classes at Georgetown, where he is chipping away at an English degree. One day, he sat near the door when a group of high school students walked past.
“One kid started yelling my name, and it felt weird because I was sitting down trying to pay attention and everyone else in the classroom started looking at me like, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Green said. “My teacher handled it well. He just went and closed the door and went about his lesson.”
The obligations of sport and school can sometimes clash. Vince Carter left the University of North Carolina for the N.B.A. in 1998, but kept working toward his degree in African-American studies. In 2001, Carter, then a guard with the Toronto Raptors, had to juggle preparations for a playoff game with his college graduation. After the ceremony, he rushed to Philadelphia to play the 76ers. Carter ended up missing the final shot, and the Raptors were eliminated. Fans and members of the news media questioned his priorities after that outcome.
“People who criticize me for that have something to think about, I think, because that’s an important time in anybody’s life,” Carter said at the time. “There’s not one person who could sit there and say that they would miss their graduation for nothing.”
The distinction held special meaning for Carter. It will as well for Durant, who departed college after one season.
He keeps in mind that his mother, Wanda Pratt, wanted to return to school but was consumed with raising him and his brother.
“To walk across the stage will be just as important as being drafted,” Durant said. “Maybe even more important because that lasts an entire lifetime.”
As will another part of being a graduate: donation requests from the alumni fund-raising office.
Phil Long/Associated Press
Chris Paul, right, with his son and LeBron James at a charity event. Paul took classes at Wake Forest in the off-season.
Westbrook, a second-year guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, walked in late to a history class this summer at U.C.L.A. As the N.B.A. opens its preseason, Westbrook was among about 45 players — 10 percent of the league — who had traded gym bags for backpacks in the off-season.
“The teacher just called my name out: ‘Hey, Mr. Westbrook. Nice to see you. Nice for you to show up,’ ” Westbrook said. “I had to walk all the way to the front and sit on the stage in front of the whole class the whole time. For two hours. I couldn’t go to sleep, couldn’t do nothing. For two hours.”
The N.B.A. union began tracking the classroom migration this year. Debbie Rothstein Murman, the director for career development for the union, said the number was much higher than in the past, although she does not have earlier numbers. For elite athletes, who command seven-figure salaries, returning to college is an investment and a hedge against what can be an uncertain future. Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets resumed classes at Wake Forest, and Westbrook’s teammate Kevin Durant continued working toward his degree at Texas.
A league rule change in 2006 mandates that players be at least one year removed from high school and at least 19 to be drafted. For many players, that meant attending at least one year of college. The rule stopped the influx of players who entered the league directly from high school. But it might have had an inadvertent consequence: some are attempting to finish what they started.
“I had classes with regular students and went to study hall and caught the school bus to the gym,” Durant said. “It was everything I did when I was there before. I’m only two years removed from college and three years removed from high school. Everything came back pretty quick.”
The average annual salary in the N.B.A. is $5.85 million, and players are generally secure in the near term. Their retirement years can be completely different. An estimated 60 percent of N.B.A. players are broke within five years of retiring, and 78 percent of N.F.L. players are bankrupt or under financial stress because of joblessness or divorce within two years, according to a report by Sports Illustrated in March. The magazine also reported that many baseball players struggle financially after retirement.
“It’s not about necessarily needing to work from a financial standpoint, but it’s not the perspective we take with them,” Rothstein Murman said. “Basketball is one of their passions, but they have others. What do they need to equip themselves with their next passion when they finish basketball? Where are they going to make their next marks?”
Professional sports leagues and unions have emphasized education as one way of helping athletes prepare.
Major League Baseball established the Professional Baseball Scholarship Plan in the early 1960s to provide benefits and reimbursement to players, many of whom are drafted out of high school or by their junior year in college. From 1962 to 1999, 69.2 percent of baseball players returned to the classroom, said Pat Courtney, a spokesman for Major League Baseball.
Half of the N.F.L.’s players have college degrees — a greater percentage than in the N.B.A. or in baseball, because fewer football players declare professional eligibility as early. Nearly 100 players went back to college in the off-season, and the league conducts a management program with universities, including Harvard and Stanford. Players receive up to $15,000 for educational reimbursement.
The best basketball players generally depart college when their stock is highest, which often comes sooner rather than later in their university careers. About 21 percent of current N.B.A. players have undergraduate degrees, Rothstein Murman said. Some may not want to leave college early, but feel the responsibility of helping their families with financial burdens.
At the players union’s high school camp, players sign contracts that stipulate they will continue their education should they ever reach the pros before graduating from college.
Some players groaned when Rothstein Murman reminded them of it when they became rookies. The contract is largely symbolic, but some players take it seriously.
The Thunder and the Golden State Warriors each had three players enrolled in summer courses. While some are establishing building blocks for the future, others are fulfilling promises to loved ones or aiming to become the first member of a family to graduate from college.
“I have a younger brother, and it sets an example for him and how important it is,” said Westbrook, who declared for the N.B.A. after his sophomore season at U.C.L.A.
The lectures could be boring, he said, and it took an entire day to write one page of the first paper assigned to him. But he also had the benefit of attending a university where a number of N.B.A. players convened for pickup games. So Westbrook easily shuttled from the court to the classroom. He recently posted on Twitter that he had received all B’s in his summer classes.
Westbrook’s teammate Jeff Green resumed his classes at Georgetown, where he is chipping away at an English degree. One day, he sat near the door when a group of high school students walked past.
“One kid started yelling my name, and it felt weird because I was sitting down trying to pay attention and everyone else in the classroom started looking at me like, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Green said. “My teacher handled it well. He just went and closed the door and went about his lesson.”
The obligations of sport and school can sometimes clash. Vince Carter left the University of North Carolina for the N.B.A. in 1998, but kept working toward his degree in African-American studies. In 2001, Carter, then a guard with the Toronto Raptors, had to juggle preparations for a playoff game with his college graduation. After the ceremony, he rushed to Philadelphia to play the 76ers. Carter ended up missing the final shot, and the Raptors were eliminated. Fans and members of the news media questioned his priorities after that outcome.
“People who criticize me for that have something to think about, I think, because that’s an important time in anybody’s life,” Carter said at the time. “There’s not one person who could sit there and say that they would miss their graduation for nothing.”
The distinction held special meaning for Carter. It will as well for Durant, who departed college after one season.
He keeps in mind that his mother, Wanda Pratt, wanted to return to school but was consumed with raising him and his brother.
“To walk across the stage will be just as important as being drafted,” Durant said. “Maybe even more important because that lasts an entire lifetime.”
As will another part of being a graduate: donation requests from the alumni fund-raising office.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
50 Best Social Network Sites for Students
Students working on their education from home have plenty of benefits traditional students don’t have, such as flexibility, self-pacing, and independence, but they must also work a little harder to make social connections that may be absent when not physically attending class. It’s great that so many social networks are available for students so they don’t have to miss out on making connections with others. Here are 50 of the best, offering everything from academic networks, networks for purely social connections, business and professional networks, financial networks, and networks for book lovers.
Academic Networks
Prepare for college, find help with assignments, connect with others who are studying in your academic field, and more with these academic networks that provide networking opportunities just right for online students.
Campusbug. Stay connected with your friends while you get access to tools and resources for studying, homework, and projects on this network.
Edmodo. Like Twitter, this network is just for students and teachers. You can share files, assignments, events, and more with Edmodo.
academici. Find others in your fields of study on this network that offers a way for those in the business of knowledge to share information, research, and more.
ResearchGATE. Students can join science professionals to collaborate and network on this site.
SciSpace.net. Another social network for scientists, this one also allows non-scientists to join, but you will need an invitation from another member.
Cramster. This online study community is available to students, parents, and teachers, and has tons of resources to help you succeed academically.
Student.com. This site provides forums and message boards for homework help, subject-specific discussions, and information on topics such as financial aid and finding the right school.
WordChamp. Sign up for free to join this global social network that helps students learning a second language with homework, drills, and even conversation with native speakers.
learnhub. Students can get help with assignments, prepare for standardized tests, and even apply to undergraduate and graduate schools through this network.
The Quad. Open to students, alumni, and family, this site promises to provide members with a smart, savvy social networking experience.
Loomagoo. Share notes and study guides, purchase and sell text books, and connect with friends with Loomagoo.
Social Networks
These social networks are more about the social than academic, but they provide online students an important chance for making connections outside the virtual classroom.
Twitter. All the rage right now, Twitter not only provides social networking, but has also become a great tool for staying connected academically, too.
Facebook. The king of social networking sites for students as well as others, Facebook offers tons of opportunities for connecting with friends and other students.
Playboy U. This social network offers student networking that will appeal to the men in the crowd.
RateMyProfessors.com. Socialize with other students while also finding information about professors at this site that helps protect you from taking classes from ineffective educators.
Ning. Many online colleges have social networking sites on Ning, but if yours doesn’t, then you can create your own social network here.
MySpace. Another very popular social network, MySpace offers video and music sharing plus a whole lot more.
Plaxo. This social network aggregator keeps you connected across several popular social networks in one place.
tribe.net. Working on a concept similar to Ning, this site hosts "tribes" of people who are connected through common interests.
Business and Professional Social Networks
Whether you are a business student, an enterprising young entrepreneur, or an established business person who’s gone back to school for another degree, these business and professional networking sites will help you stay connected.
LinkedIn. Probably one of the highest profile business networks, LinkedIn is a great place to establish your professional presence.
Naymz. Students wanting to establish their personal brand and build their professional network should check out Naymz.
Jigsaw. Growing your business connections is directly associated with your participation in this community where members earn points by contributing contact information.
Ecademy. Build your network, grow your business, or find connections with Ecademy.
Ryze. Not only can you make business contacts on this social community, but you can take advantage of their classified to find employment, real estate, and business opportunities.
APSense. Members can vote positively for legitimate businesses and negatively for scams or spams that make their way in, ensuring only those with good intentions can participate on this business network.
Fast Pitch. This social network gives you a chance to network with professionals in preparation for your career while building your presence.
Talkbiznow. Promote your business, collaborate with others, and find industry insight with this network of business professionals.
BizWiz. BizWiz promises to connect you with information, services, and other business professionals when you join their network.
Social Lending Networks
These networks facilitate loans between members, with many borrowers paying for school this way. If you are looking for ways to fund your education, check out these social lending networks.
Lending Club. Promising to provide borrowers with better rates than most traditional loans, Lending Club also attracts lenders with the ability to control their investments.
CommunityLend. This network is all about creating a sense of community between borrowers and lenders, with borrowers actually having lenders bid on financing them.
GreenNote. Specifically for student loans, GreenNote is a popular alternative to student loans and allows members to finance loans to individual students at low interest rates.
Prosper. Set the interest rate you want when borrowing here, then lenders participate in an auction to fund your loan.
Zopa. This social finance network connects borrowers with credit unions who offer low-interest rates and investors with federally-insured savings deposits.
Personal Finance
Whether you have started school in debt, found yourself with growing debt in order to pay for school, or want to give yourself the best start possible after graduation, these social networks will help you get your personal finances in order.
Minyanville Financial Infotainment. Meet other investors while learning about smart investment strategies and participate in forums, read blogs, and find helpful articles about investing.
Geezeo. Learn to manage your personal finances with the tools and resources available on this network, including the opportunity to ask questions of financial experts.
Wesabe. Connect with others who have the same financial goals as you do in this financial network.
Art of Saving. This personal finance social network helps members reach their finance goals, such as saving for life after college, while learning from experts, other members, webinars and events.
I Hate Debt. Connect with other members in this community of people working to eliminate their personal debt through blogs, chats, message boards, and more.
ClearPoint. ClearPoint allows members to connect with others through videos, message boards, and a blog to learn ways to successfully get out of debt.
Debt Consolidation Care. Participate in this community, use the resources available, and read informative articles to help reduce and eliminate your debt.
Books and Reading
While most of your time is probably wrapped up in reading texts, if you still crave a little personal reading, then these social networks are a great way to feed your need. You can probably even find some help with your literature classes here, too.
Shelfari. Use the beautiful visual bookshelves here to organize the books you’ve read as well as the ones you want to read, then share your books and opinions with others on this network.
aNobii. Connect with other members with whom you share the same books on your lists, rate books, purchase books online, and get code to add to your blog so you can write about specific books.
LibraryThing. A popular book network, LibraryThing, lets you catalog your books virtually, find reviews from others, share your opinion, and much more.
Bookarmy. This community is devoted to preventing people from having to read bad books with their reviews, recommendations, information about authors, and connections with others.
Goodreads. Book lovers can organize books, share reviews, form virtual book clubs, test their knowledge of book trivia, and much more at this popular reading network.
ReadWhale. Create a book shelf, then connect with others to rate, discuss, and compare books in this social community.
Juicespot. Read articles and vote on whether you agree with the point made, see what critics have to say, and share your own reviews with others in the community.
Noting:books. Keep and share notes about the books you are reading, including the days you started and finished and your thoughts as you read each book.
Booktagger. Add the books your list and tag them with descriptions, then join a book group or create your own. You can also keep track of books you’ve loaned.
ConnectViaBooks. You are greeted with an interactive map that shows the various activities of members around the world when you arrive at this social network. Join in and connect with these members to share your love of books globally.
Academic Networks
Prepare for college, find help with assignments, connect with others who are studying in your academic field, and more with these academic networks that provide networking opportunities just right for online students.
Campusbug. Stay connected with your friends while you get access to tools and resources for studying, homework, and projects on this network.
Edmodo. Like Twitter, this network is just for students and teachers. You can share files, assignments, events, and more with Edmodo.
academici. Find others in your fields of study on this network that offers a way for those in the business of knowledge to share information, research, and more.
ResearchGATE. Students can join science professionals to collaborate and network on this site.
SciSpace.net. Another social network for scientists, this one also allows non-scientists to join, but you will need an invitation from another member.
Cramster. This online study community is available to students, parents, and teachers, and has tons of resources to help you succeed academically.
Student.com. This site provides forums and message boards for homework help, subject-specific discussions, and information on topics such as financial aid and finding the right school.
WordChamp. Sign up for free to join this global social network that helps students learning a second language with homework, drills, and even conversation with native speakers.
learnhub. Students can get help with assignments, prepare for standardized tests, and even apply to undergraduate and graduate schools through this network.
The Quad. Open to students, alumni, and family, this site promises to provide members with a smart, savvy social networking experience.
Loomagoo. Share notes and study guides, purchase and sell text books, and connect with friends with Loomagoo.
Social Networks
These social networks are more about the social than academic, but they provide online students an important chance for making connections outside the virtual classroom.
Twitter. All the rage right now, Twitter not only provides social networking, but has also become a great tool for staying connected academically, too.
Facebook. The king of social networking sites for students as well as others, Facebook offers tons of opportunities for connecting with friends and other students.
Playboy U. This social network offers student networking that will appeal to the men in the crowd.
RateMyProfessors.com. Socialize with other students while also finding information about professors at this site that helps protect you from taking classes from ineffective educators.
Ning. Many online colleges have social networking sites on Ning, but if yours doesn’t, then you can create your own social network here.
MySpace. Another very popular social network, MySpace offers video and music sharing plus a whole lot more.
Plaxo. This social network aggregator keeps you connected across several popular social networks in one place.
tribe.net. Working on a concept similar to Ning, this site hosts "tribes" of people who are connected through common interests.
Business and Professional Social Networks
Whether you are a business student, an enterprising young entrepreneur, or an established business person who’s gone back to school for another degree, these business and professional networking sites will help you stay connected.
LinkedIn. Probably one of the highest profile business networks, LinkedIn is a great place to establish your professional presence.
Naymz. Students wanting to establish their personal brand and build their professional network should check out Naymz.
Jigsaw. Growing your business connections is directly associated with your participation in this community where members earn points by contributing contact information.
Ecademy. Build your network, grow your business, or find connections with Ecademy.
Ryze. Not only can you make business contacts on this social community, but you can take advantage of their classified to find employment, real estate, and business opportunities.
APSense. Members can vote positively for legitimate businesses and negatively for scams or spams that make their way in, ensuring only those with good intentions can participate on this business network.
Fast Pitch. This social network gives you a chance to network with professionals in preparation for your career while building your presence.
Talkbiznow. Promote your business, collaborate with others, and find industry insight with this network of business professionals.
BizWiz. BizWiz promises to connect you with information, services, and other business professionals when you join their network.
Social Lending Networks
These networks facilitate loans between members, with many borrowers paying for school this way. If you are looking for ways to fund your education, check out these social lending networks.
Lending Club. Promising to provide borrowers with better rates than most traditional loans, Lending Club also attracts lenders with the ability to control their investments.
CommunityLend. This network is all about creating a sense of community between borrowers and lenders, with borrowers actually having lenders bid on financing them.
GreenNote. Specifically for student loans, GreenNote is a popular alternative to student loans and allows members to finance loans to individual students at low interest rates.
Prosper. Set the interest rate you want when borrowing here, then lenders participate in an auction to fund your loan.
Zopa. This social finance network connects borrowers with credit unions who offer low-interest rates and investors with federally-insured savings deposits.
Personal Finance
Whether you have started school in debt, found yourself with growing debt in order to pay for school, or want to give yourself the best start possible after graduation, these social networks will help you get your personal finances in order.
Minyanville Financial Infotainment. Meet other investors while learning about smart investment strategies and participate in forums, read blogs, and find helpful articles about investing.
Geezeo. Learn to manage your personal finances with the tools and resources available on this network, including the opportunity to ask questions of financial experts.
Wesabe. Connect with others who have the same financial goals as you do in this financial network.
Art of Saving. This personal finance social network helps members reach their finance goals, such as saving for life after college, while learning from experts, other members, webinars and events.
I Hate Debt. Connect with other members in this community of people working to eliminate their personal debt through blogs, chats, message boards, and more.
ClearPoint. ClearPoint allows members to connect with others through videos, message boards, and a blog to learn ways to successfully get out of debt.
Debt Consolidation Care. Participate in this community, use the resources available, and read informative articles to help reduce and eliminate your debt.
Books and Reading
While most of your time is probably wrapped up in reading texts, if you still crave a little personal reading, then these social networks are a great way to feed your need. You can probably even find some help with your literature classes here, too.
Shelfari. Use the beautiful visual bookshelves here to organize the books you’ve read as well as the ones you want to read, then share your books and opinions with others on this network.
aNobii. Connect with other members with whom you share the same books on your lists, rate books, purchase books online, and get code to add to your blog so you can write about specific books.
LibraryThing. A popular book network, LibraryThing, lets you catalog your books virtually, find reviews from others, share your opinion, and much more.
Bookarmy. This community is devoted to preventing people from having to read bad books with their reviews, recommendations, information about authors, and connections with others.
Goodreads. Book lovers can organize books, share reviews, form virtual book clubs, test their knowledge of book trivia, and much more at this popular reading network.
ReadWhale. Create a book shelf, then connect with others to rate, discuss, and compare books in this social community.
Juicespot. Read articles and vote on whether you agree with the point made, see what critics have to say, and share your own reviews with others in the community.
Noting:books. Keep and share notes about the books you are reading, including the days you started and finished and your thoughts as you read each book.
Booktagger. Add the books your list and tag them with descriptions, then join a book group or create your own. You can also keep track of books you’ve loaned.
ConnectViaBooks. You are greeted with an interactive map that shows the various activities of members around the world when you arrive at this social network. Join in and connect with these members to share your love of books globally.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
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