A Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business and Management (Graziadio School) assistant professor recently contributed to an article in U.S. News and World Report in which he commented on the ways that his students utilize social media to succeed in the pursuit of their online degrees.
Professor Stephen Rapier, PhD has observed the evolution of social interaction among students during his tenure at the Graziadio School, as well as in the business world. With over twenty years of experience in the advertising, branding, marketing and public relations industries, he is well aware of the changing face of online communication. “[Facebook] kind of supplements the potential loss of not being in the classroom, not having that social aspect,” he said.
The omnipresence of online MBA degrees has undoubtedly led to an ongoing transformation in the way that students interact with one another.
Professors of online courses are able to reach students in a variety of ways due to the prevalence of social media. Students are no longer subject to the boundaries of a physical college campus; their access to fellow students is now limitless. In addition to Facebook, learners can use Google Hangouts, LinkedIn, Twitter and various other outlets on which they can make connections with one another. Social interaction isn’t the only application of these forums, however.
Via social media, students have access not only to experts within their courses of study, but the expanded reach that these tools offer for marketing and research. MBA candidates are also enabled through these venues to present portfolios, projects, and developments in their courses of study to an enormous audience.
Professor Rapier has lectured at California State University Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, California State University San Bernardino, Claremont Graduate University, and the University of Southern California. Dr. Rapier received his Executive MBA and PhD from Claremont Graduate University.