I have a profile on Linkedin. I am connected to many of my fellow academic and attorney peeps (If we are not connected, email me). But, I seem to be receiving requests from some of my students to connect.
Sorry...no can do.
At a recent conference, I heard the following quote:
Linkedin is the boardroom.
Twitter is the water cooler.
Facebook is the bar.
It's not about being a snob, but I am not comfortable connecting with my students in that way. I am not comfortable sharing my professional connections with students while they are students. I get the whole networking thing. I've given my student the name of someone I know and given that person a heads up that the student is contacting them. But, I am not open to giving them carte blanche to my professional life.
Do any of you connect with your students via Linkedin?
About Me
- Seeking Solace
- I am a college professor who is fumbling through the chaos of academia, rheumatoid arthritis, working on my PhD and just being a 40 something woman. I used to be a lawyer, which made me a snarky little person. I have a wonderful Husband and a German Shepherd named Junior. They help keep me sane.
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3 comments:
I do actually. I was talking at a meeting about this the other day and many were well stupid about it "What is a stalker finds you on there?" um what? don't accept requests unless you know people. DUH. But they were also pretty worked up about letting students connect. I'm connected and I've recommended a few (when I know there work, I won't recommend just anyone). Those I have connected with have used it correctly. I'd like to think that some of this is because of how much I've stressed maintaining a professional look online, but I also sense that they just get it. They understand that their lives are different--networking occurs online, job hunting occurs through networking and any of us are supposed to be their connections. We're supposed to help them connect with people. And they've actually helped me connect too! As long as they continue to use it professionally, I don't see a problem with it. Like facebook (I don't use twitter) I'd drop anyone in a heart beat if I felt it was a bad connection.
I'm actually going to do a work shop on this later on in teh semester. I plan on showing the others who I am connected with and how my students have never put up anything inappropriate. Most just update profiles and connections. It's usually colleagues and former profs of my that update "statuses" on there.
Here's another way of looking at it--those students, are my professional life. Access to my on facebook though is another thing entirely. They must graduate and even then I block access to certain things.
I get what you are saying. I don't have an issue connecting with them after graduation. I am just not sure about while they are in school. I am also concerned about whether some will use it correctly. I wouldn't connect with anyone who wouldn't.
Thanks for the input. You are always a great sounding board. :)
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