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Social Computing

People are social creatures and the modern Internet reflects that. Technology has made collaboration at a distance possible in new ways that present their own set of challenges. This course will introduce you to the major challenges and opportunities for creating online communities. What does the future hold? Learn how social computing can create collaboration experiences that go beyond what’s possible face to face.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Connecting People through Technology

When you think of social media, you might think of a popular social network, like Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. These are indeed powerful, but the universe of social media is much larger. Both online and off, most everything we do has a social component that is mediated by some technology. After all, technologies have been helping people communicate since long before your favorite curly-haired CEO dropped out of college. In this module, you’ll learn about different types of social software, how to think about physical collaboration and digital collaboration using the same framework, and what the challenges to success for collaborative software are.

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Covers social collaboration tools, akin to what you would learn in an academic class on the subject

Taught by Scott Klemmer, who are recognized industry professionals in Social Computing

Develops collaboration skills, which are core skills for today's global and remote workplace

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Reviews summary

Introduction to social computing concepts

According to learners, this course provides a solid introduction to the field of Social Computing. Students appreciate the broad overview it offers, covering relevant topics like collaboration challenges and crowdsourcing. The assignments are generally seen as engaging and helpful for applying concepts, particularly the practical crowdsourcing task. However, some learners noted that the course leans more towards theory than practical, hands-on technical skills. A few also suggested that the content could benefit from being updated with more recent examples from current social platforms to maintain full relevance. Overall, the course is largely positive for those seeking a foundational understanding of the social aspects of technology.

Assignments offer practical application.

"The crowdsourcing assignment was a great way to apply concepts and see how it works."

"Assignments were thought-provoking and helped solidify understanding."

"Hands-on activities helped me grasp the material better."

"I enjoyed the practical component of the course assignments."

Covers important areas like crowdsourcing.

"The section on crowdsourcing was particularly interesting and well explained."

"Valuable insights into online collaboration and its challenges."

"Topics covered are highly relevant to modern tech platforms."

"The material on designing for distance was very useful."

Offers a comprehensive intro to social computing.

"Provides a solid overview of social computing."

"Good introduction to the key concepts."

"Helped me understand the landscape of social tech."

"I gained a broad understanding of the field."

Content could use more current examples.

"Some examples felt a bit dated, given how fast social tech changes."

"Could use more discussion of current social media platforms and trends."

"The core concepts are solid, but the case studies could be more recent."

"Updating the examples would make the course feel more relevant today."

Can be theoretical; lacks hands-on coding.

"This course is more theoretical than practical coding focused."

"I wish there were more technical examples or coding labs."

"Great if you want the theory, less so if you're looking for technical implementation details."

"Leans heavily into the academic side of the subject."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Social Computing with these activities:

Take notes during the course

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Active participation and engagement will help you retain key lessons from this course.

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Attend all of the course lectures and tutorials.
Take notes on the main points of each lesson.
Review your notes regularly.

Review general collaboration skills

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Warm up your general collaboration skills in preparation for this course.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Think back to your past social media experiences. What did you like? What didn’t you like? How could you use that experience to inform your future online collaborations?
Reach out to an online friend or colleague and ask them to talk about their experiences and their successes and failures with online communications.

Read 'Social Media Marketing for Dummies'

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Gain a foundational understanding of social media marketing to build your online community.

View Nonprofit Management All-in-One For Dummies... on Amazon

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Apply what you've learned to your own social media marketing efforts.

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Explore social media for work

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Familiarize yourself with different social media apps and how they can be used to support collaboration.

Browse courses on Social Media

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Choose a social media platform that you're interested in learning more about, such as Slack, Discord, or Zoom.
Watch a few tutorials on how to use that platform effectively for work.
Experiment with the platform by sending messages, creating groups, and sharing files.

Practice using social media tools

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Get hands-on experience with the tools you'll be using to collaborate online.

Browse courses on Social Media Tools

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Set up a social media account for yourself.
Join a few groups related to your interests.
Start posting content and interacting with other users.

Join an online community for collaboration

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Connect with other learners and professionals to share knowledge, ideas, and support.

Browse courses on Online Communities

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Search for an online community that aligns with your interests.
Join the community and introduce yourself.
Participate in discussions, ask questions, and share your own knowledge and experiences.

Create a social media plan for your team

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Develop a plan for how you will use social media to collaborate with your team.

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Identify your team's goals for using social media.
Research different social media platforms to see which ones are best suited for your team's needs.
Develop a content calendar that outlines what types of content you will post on each platform.
Create a set of guidelines for your team on how to use social media professionally.

Participate in a social media challenge

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Put your social media skills to the test and learn from others in a fun and competitive environment.

Browse courses on Collaboration

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Find a social media challenge that interests you.
Create content that meets the challenge requirements.
Submit your content and promote it to your followers.

Career center

Learners who complete Social Computing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Social Media Manager

A Social Media Manager is responsible for developing, executing, and analyzing social media strategies for businesses and organizations. The Social Computing course can help you build a foundation in the principles of social media and collaboration, which are essential for success in this role. The course will introduce you to different types of social software, how to design for collaboration, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. This knowledge will be invaluable as you develop and implement social media strategies that engage your target audience and achieve your business goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Community Manager

A Community Manager is responsible for building and managing online communities for businesses and organizations. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to build and manage thriving online communities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Manager

User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer is responsible for designing and evaluating the user experience of websites, apps, and other digital products. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to design user experiences that are both effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience Designer

Interaction Designer

An Interaction Designer is responsible for designing the interactions between users and digital products. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to design interactions that are both intuitive and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interaction Designer

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. The Social Computing course can help you build a foundation in the principles of social computing, which are becoming increasingly important in the development of software applications. The course will introduce you to different types of social software, how to design for collaboration, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. This knowledge will be invaluable as you develop software applications that are both effective and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses and organizations make better decisions. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to collect and analyze data from a variety of sources.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for the development and launch of new products. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to develop and launch new products that meet the needs of your target market.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing projects. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to plan and execute projects that are both effective and efficient.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business processes and developing solutions to improve efficiency. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to analyze business processes and develop solutions that are both effective and efficient.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Consultant

A Consultant provides advice to businesses and organizations on how to improve their operations. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to provide advice to businesses and organizations on how to improve their operations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Entrepreneur

An Entrepreneur is someone who starts their own business. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to start and grow your own business.

See salaries and explore the career path for Entrepreneur

Nonprofit Manager

A Nonprofit Manager is responsible for the operation of a nonprofit organization. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to manage a nonprofit organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Manager

Educator

An Educator is responsible for teaching students. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to teach students in a variety of settings.

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Researcher

A Researcher is responsible for conducting research in a variety of fields. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to conduct research in a variety of fields.

See salaries and explore the career path for Researcher

Writer

A Writer is responsible for writing content for a variety of purposes. The Social Computing course can help you develop the skills you need to be successful in this role, such as how to connect people through technology, how to design for collaboration online, and how to create technologies that go beyond being there. The course will also introduce you to the challenges and opportunities of collaboration online, which will be invaluable as you work to write content that is both engaging and informative.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Reading list

We've selected 24 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Social Computing.

Building Reliable Component-based Software Systems

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Provides a comprehensive look at collaborative software engineering, which major topic of the course. It offers a theoretical background and practical knowledge, making it a valuable resource for deeper understanding.

Social Computing

What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Introduction to social computing concepts

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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