Information Literacy and Social Media: Teaching Students How to Control Their Online Presence

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Location

Room 212

Abstract

Students live in an environment of continual connectivity through social media. This necessitates an urgency to emphasize information literacy skills with college students, and it challenges librarians to adapt their instruction to address social media. Teaching students how to control their online presence is essential to their future success. Hiring managers, graduate schools, and internship programs regularly conduct "social media background checks" on applicants; therefore, it is imperative that students establish and maintain a professional online presence early in their academic careers. This presentation discusses a workshop I developed for students at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame entitled "Belles Creating a Brand." In this workshop, I address ways students can control their online presence and "brand" themselves across social media platforms to project a professional online presence. I emphasize the importance of separating the personal from the professional; the need to control their online presence in order to project their own identity; and I offer individualized consultations to help students clean up their online images. I make a concerted effort to connect information literacy with students' daily behaviors online. My goal is to empower students to take control of their online presence and create a professional image so they will be successful when they approach graduation and apply for jobs, graduate schools, or internships. Librarians have unique insight into social networking, and the ability to assist students as they confront the realities of online connectivity. Teaching online information literacy skills demonstrates our relevancy and meets a critical, contemporary need.

Presentation Description

Teaching online information literacy skills demonstrates our relevancy and meets a critical, contemporary need. Librarians have unique insight into social networking, and the ability to assist students as they confront the realities of online connectivity. My goal is to empower students to take control of their online presence and create a professional image so they will be successful when they approach graduation and apply for jobs, graduate schools, or internships. In this presentation, I discuss a workshop I developed to help students control their online identities and establish a professional online image.

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

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Sep 26th, 9:45 AM Sep 26th, 11:00 AM

Information Literacy and Social Media: Teaching Students How to Control Their Online Presence

Room 212

Students live in an environment of continual connectivity through social media. This necessitates an urgency to emphasize information literacy skills with college students, and it challenges librarians to adapt their instruction to address social media. Teaching students how to control their online presence is essential to their future success. Hiring managers, graduate schools, and internship programs regularly conduct "social media background checks" on applicants; therefore, it is imperative that students establish and maintain a professional online presence early in their academic careers. This presentation discusses a workshop I developed for students at Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame entitled "Belles Creating a Brand." In this workshop, I address ways students can control their online presence and "brand" themselves across social media platforms to project a professional online presence. I emphasize the importance of separating the personal from the professional; the need to control their online presence in order to project their own identity; and I offer individualized consultations to help students clean up their online images. I make a concerted effort to connect information literacy with students' daily behaviors online. My goal is to empower students to take control of their online presence and create a professional image so they will be successful when they approach graduation and apply for jobs, graduate schools, or internships. Librarians have unique insight into social networking, and the ability to assist students as they confront the realities of online connectivity. Teaching online information literacy skills demonstrates our relevancy and meets a critical, contemporary need.