Kudos to IECA Members Breaking New Ground in Online Communication
by Mark H. Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA
A number of IECA members have explored creative use of social media, Web sites, and other forms of electronic communications, providing new ways to reach families and serve student needs. A few highlights:
Mark Montgomery (Associate Member, CO) has probably done more to harness the educational and outreach potential of the Internet than any other educational consultant. Mark’s Web site features an active blog, video, and more. What I really loved was a live chat hosted through Mark’s Twitter account (@CollegeAdvice) which invited students to pose questions and get responses from Mark and his Twitter followers. A great use of new technologies to connect to students.
Many IECA Members now host a blog, most wisely linking to the blog or posting it directly on their Web site. In fact we list 32 links to member blogs from this one. Among the best: updated frequently, articles of genuine value to students and families are those for Debbie Davis (CT); Jerry Daniels (Associate Member, TX) complete with a video on recommendations; Kristina Dooley (Associate Member, Argentina) who uses her blog to describe each school after she completes a visit; Lucia Tyler (NY) who blogs on interesting emotional topics like homesickness); Tam Warner Minton (TX) who shows 205 STUDENT bloggers who contribute to her College Adventures blog; and Val Broughton (MN), along with many other great efforts.
Some of the most interesting reading comes from those who offer their own comments or musings on others’ blogs. I often see Nancy Griesemer (Associate Member, VA) acting as a consumer advocate on educational Web sites, press releases, and blogs among others.
A number of members are active on their Twitter accounts and some great Web sites and Facebook pages have emerged as well. Among those whose Facebook pages really work to inform or engage parents: Adam Goldberg (MA), Marilyn Emerson (NY), Bari Norman (FL), Judi Robinovitz (FL) whose many valuable tweets are posted on her Facebook page, among many, many others.
As more and more members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association discover creative and valuable ways to engage their colleagues and their families through new media, we’ll look for opportunities to highlight them here.
Related posts:
- What I Learned About How Mobile Technologies are Changing the Way Associations Communicate with Members
- Social Media and IECs
- Attending the Dallas Conference…Virtually
- Social Media Pre-Con Workshop Helps Independent Educational Consultants Face the Future
- An IECA Consultant’s Journey with Technology
Thanks for the mention, Mark! I agree that many of our members have been using electronic communication in some really creative ways and I enjoy reading their content and following their tweets. Kudos to those who are forging ahead with these tools!
What a great point Mark. One of the great things about membership in IECA is the unique mix of new and experienced, and of old school and new school. We all have different means to our common end; that of helping the kids, and personally I feel that we all can learn from everyone. It is encouraging that IECA makes sure that all voices and styles are heard, validated and encouraged.
Mark,
You are taking way too little credit! It’s thanks to your leadership and forward-thinking approach to electronic communications that many of us have become webmasters, bloggers, and online journalists.
By maintaining an informative and well-written blog, you’ve led by example. The IECA website is also chock-full of advice and projects a level of professionalism of which all members can be proud.
At the 2007 IECA Summer Institute, you predicted that “Web 2.0″ and other forms of “new” media would be key tools for college consultants of the future. You were very right.
Thank you for encouraging your membership to share your enthusiasm and learn how much the “Brave New World” of electronic communications can inform and support our profession.
Nancy
I appreciate your comments on the different “flavors” of IECA member blogs. I enjoy reading several of them and they spark even more ideas. Few people leave comments however ,which makes me wonder who is reading my comments but I have found that there are many “stealth” readers.
Thanks for noticing the work we’ve been doing online. Wait until you see the new website we’ve been developing for the past 3+ months, it will blow your socks off! The only piece I see missing from your blog post is something about consultants doing virtual tutoring and consulting. Through our practice, we’ve helped students in the Bahamas, Spain, London, Dubai, and various states throughout the USA. Additionally, starting this month, we will be starting an entire webinar series to educate students and parents on recent developments in college admissions, the difference between the ACT & SAT, study habits that work, and a host of other subjects. Our first webinar is scheduled for September 20th, we have over 85 people registered to attend so far!
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