Public Engagement Skills: Using social media for Public Engagement (optional module)   

Target audience

PhD students and early career researchers interested in using social media as part of their public engagement activities.

Pre-requisites

No prior knowledge or experience is required – the event is aimed both at those who are new to using social media for engagement purposes and those who have prior experience.

Process

The session will involve a presentation but there will be plenty of chances for interaction and raising questions and issues.

Course description

Learn how social media tools such as blogging, Twitter and Facebook can be used to build an engaging environment amongst students, academics and the public. It will cover the basics of blogging, Facebook and Twitter.

Learning outcomes:

Social media:

• Have a basic understanding of social media tools and how they relate to academic practice.
• Be able to explore a number of social media tools and resources.
• Understand the key implications of using social media in academic research to engage with the public.

Twitter:

·         Gain an understanding of the basics of Twitter, how it works and how to use it for public engagement and to raise your research profile.

 

Facebook:

·         How to build engagement with students, academics and the public.

 

Blogging:

·         What is a blog?

·         What can blogging do for you?

·         Examples of successful blogs

·         Blogging platforms

·         Preparing to blog

·         How to set up a blog