October 2009 Newsletter

ed2go Featured Article: Social Media + U = GR8 Success

	ed2go: The media and marketing landscape is changing as companies begin using social interaction Web sites like Twitter and Facebook to stay in touch with a new generation of online users. This impacts the way students find, enroll, learn, and seek customer service; but make no mistake, the objective of generating publicity and maintaining a positive public image remains constant. Social media is molding a new business communications process and those who evolve with the media landscape will be the ones whose stories will be told for free. 3 days ago
	ed2go: Journalists are no longer the only content creators. An educational institution can now tell its story to an unlimited audience through social networks and blogs. This not only creates exposure, but also drives web site traffic and enrollments and provides accessibility to student support when social media is used properly. Social media's impact is potentially as big as email or the fax, so now's the time to join. 2 days ago
	ed2go's #1 Fan: So, what do I do first? 2 days ago
	ed2go: The first step is to obtain your @twitter name and start a fan page on Facebook and build up your fans by using online marketing on your Web site. As soon as you have approximately 100 fans, Facebook allows you to secure a vanity URL (Example: www.facebook/yourname). 1 day ago
	ed2go: Now that you have locked down this new piece of the online world, it's time to search out your current students and alumni and invite them to be your fans and followers. Provide them with admissions support and customer service. Good customer service examples on Twitter include Southwest Airlines, Best Buy and Dell. 2.5 hours ago
	ed2go: There is no software or applications needed on Facebook, but we do recommend TweetDeck, a free application for Twitter. It shows you multiple accounts and interfaces with Twitter to allow users to easily send and receive tweets and view profiles and search for mentions of your name. 2 hours ago
	ed2go's #1 Fan: How is ed2go using social media? 45 mins ago
	ed2go: ed2go is on Facebook and Twitter at @ed2go. Our presence has allowed us to drive more enrollments to our partners and provides customer support for ed2go students. We are also announcing new courses through these channels. To join us on Facebook, simply create a Facebook account (if you do not already have one) and then search for ed2go and become a fan. Also join us on Twitter! 15 minutes ago

Featured Partner - Westchester Community College

Our featured partner is Westchester Community College (Valhalla, NY), a part of the State University of New York. Their innovative integration of ed2go Online Courses and an on-campus component has allowed them to use grant money to further student development through blended learning. Westchester Community College, along with The Guidance Center (Rochelle, NY), is providing training to 34 young adults in a hybrid program of the ed2go|GES CompTIA A+ Certification Training Program. This project was funded by a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration, working in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Labor and Employment and The WorkPlace, Inc. WIRED is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor to address the challenges of global competition by preparing America's Workforce for high-skilled, high-wage opportunities. WIRED brings together business, education, economic development, workforce development, and other community leaders to develop innovative, transformational changes in the workforce system. Blended Learning The students, ages 18-24, will participate in an Online Career Training program as their primary source of instruction. Their online learning is complimented by a weekly in-person, hands-on lab session held at one of the College's extension locations or The Guidance Center. The programs are led by a College instructor who holds A+ certification and who has access to the online program so hands-on instruction can be coordinated with the modules the students cover. It is expected that students who complete their training will sit for the CompTIA A+ Certification exams. ed2go likes this.

For questions about this initiative, contact Mary Beth Jerry, Director of Computing and Online Programs, Westchester Community College Division of Continuing Education.