Communication
Well this is my first effort to create a Blog. As the President of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota I wanted to find another way to communicate thoughts that would allow for response from others in the DSU community or in a broader community. DSU is a campus that has unique mission - to be the information technology campus for the state and so finding new technologies and new ways to communicate is a part of what we are about.
With the help of Dan W here at DSU I am going to move into this blogging world to see what kind of possibilities it presents for increased communication. Another acquaintance of mine who is into blogging indicated that the best blogs are somewhat personal and incorporate a bit of humor so I will attempt both.
I have been thinking alot about how communication takes place in this new electronic, digital age. Certainly my life focuses around email, cell phone messages, web pages, etc. I find that I have quickly adopted a work life style that puts me in front of a screen at almost any time of the day. In-between meetings I quickly check my messages and attempt to respond to inquiries as quickly as possible. The level of communication has increased in so many ways. I know others who confine their email checking and responses to a specific time of day etc but this just doesn't seem to work for me. I am convinced that our students will quickly adopt this style of interaction. Does it make me more socially isolated - I don't believe so and find that those times when I am face to face with someone else has become even more engaging, but then I didn't grow up with instant messaging, blogging and email. I often wonder what the impact will be on this whole generation of students who have had this as part of their world and a part of their expectation.
The management team here at DSU is looking at a new PDA/Cell phone combination (Blackberry type) initiative for our group. I have joked with them that I am going to get these new earpieces that have wireless bluetooth connection and that we will walk around with them on all day so we can "communicate" ubiquitously (love that word). Who knows!
Hope to get comments or thoughts and others suggestions for communicating effectively.
posted by DSU President at 9:09 AM
24 Comments:
This is AWESOME!!!!!
9:46 AM
This is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!
9:47 AM
Dr. Knowlton,
It's nice to see that you've joined the lose collection of us bloggers on campus! Good luck in your further endeavors
Matt Paulson
http://www.mattpaulson.com
paulsonm@pluto.dsu.edu
9:47 AM
Welcome to the blogosphere, President Knowlton. I especially like that your blog is on the Blogger.com site, which easily allows me to subscribe to it through RSS.
If anyone is interested, the beta for the new Internet Explorer 7 has a built in RSS subscription manager that makes subscribing to your favorite blogs or news sources very simple. If you're new to RSS, you can read about it in this Wikipedia article.
Best, Justin Blessinger
10:13 AM
I think you'll find blogging is an excellent source to get your thoughts out there. It's very convenient for students and faculty to just see what you're thinking by going to this site every now and then. Welcome to this new world!
10:31 AM
Dr. Knowlton,
We're all becoming nerds! :) No, this is great and it lets people know you on a personal level, which is what I really like about this school. Welcome.
10:49 AM
Blog on!
10:59 AM
It's interesting to me that you choose to blog about the isolationism that technology facilitates in your first blog. As a transfer student, I was pretty shocked at the quietness of the TC the first few weeks; how it can be full and silent at the same time baffled me. I noticed people instant messaging eachother from across the room (sometimes even across the table as some eye contact was made) and that everyone seemed to be in their own world.
However, I don't see technology as the problem. I admit that I use it a lot to keep up with friends and family that I don't get to talk to on a regular basis for whatever reason, and it's a very useful tool...I love it!
The 'problem' with technology and isolationism is that people are so absorbed in being 'somewhere else' talking to people that they cannot be with and playing games or surfing, with their earbuds in and/or talking on their phones at the same time, that they do not exist here. They isolate themselves.
I would consider myself a fairly outgoing person, eager to make new friends, and always looking for good conversation, and when someone is in front of their computer, earbuds in or talking on the phone, they become pretty completely unapproachable (I know I'm guilty of this too, from time to time).
It also allows us to be involved with each other at a less than personal level, and to know each other fairly well while putting little effort into actual relationships with each other. I am afraid that, as time goes on, my generation will not understand the work that goes into actual relationships with eachother, that even in our closest spheres of influence, relationships will suffer immensely as we forget that life happens outside of cyberspace too.
11:05 AM
Welcome to the blogging world, Dr. Knowlton. Its great to see more and more people blogging. Blogging is a great way to express yourself.
-Jeff Pollreisz
http://www.jeffpollreisz.com
11:13 AM
I think that communication is a key factor in any sort of business, relationship, or higher ed facility. Your position requires your best efforts in making the business of DSU marketable and desirable, and at the same time, forming relationships with staff, students, alumni, and prospects.
You do a wonderful job of getting out for DSU events, Discovery Days, or just the occasional campus walk through, and students see that and really feel like part of a bigger group.
One of the retention points that DSU tries to sell is the close knit campus, and every attempt (this blog) to continue on that avenue, can only mean better things for DSU as a whole. Keep it up. – Chase -
11:25 AM
I'm not sure that there are many schools that can boast that their President has a blog.
I hope you can keep this up. We're rooting for you!
12:56 PM
I do think it is great that you are blogging now. I like being able to leave comments for you as well.
I do have to ask what you think about the current revisions to the Section 8 Housing Assistance that has recently been passed that bars single, college kids that are under the age of 24 and whose parents are of middle or upper class from recieving federal assistance to live in the community?
1:17 PM
I think this is just outstanding. Way to go, Doug! thv
1:41 PM
Vitamin K - Great to see your blog. I always wished every person was required to write a blog entry on a semi-regular basis because it makes for the best reading anywhere. Be sure to check ryanglanzer.com for my "daily log" which is now only three entries per week. And hello to everyone at DSU!
Your former Trojan, Ryan Glanzer
2:54 PM
Dr. Knowlton,
I am glad that you have decided to create a blog. It will be a lot easier for people to communicate via the blog as long as it is checked regularly.
I know I have asked you this before, but I was wondering if there was a way that art majors/computer graphics could recieve Apple computers rather than Gateways. Preferences aside, Computer Graphics majors like myself will be using Mac's when we enter the work force so it would benefit us greatly if we were able to have experience prior to graduation.
Good luck on your blogging!
Alicia Diaz
diaza@pluto.dsu.edu
10:33 PM
Wow, not one negative statement that’s amazing. Your comment moderation enabled is really working! I like the fact that you are biased and don’t publish other peoples opinions… reminds me of bad journalism, *Washington post. I think I could name others but you get the point.
If you truly want this to be an open forum let all comments through, if they contain filthy language simply remove them. It’s like you have duct tape democracy...
Now if I had put a comment like you run your campus like Hitler or something negative about your super new dsu.com site design, I would expect you not to publish that or remove that portion of the comment. But because you are SO self conscious about how this may look upon you and the school you can’t and won’t publish anything negative or that you may disagree with.
All the things you discuss on this blogg will not be important at all, one can’t even take them serious, you won’t hit the real issues facing students/staff/faculty. Its just a good plug for you and DSU. *oh look at me; I am the first president to have a blogg, look every one look.
But keep up the good work because we all know this is where the president should be, online making his feelings count and not publishing all comments.
I know you will not publish this, for it’s too harsh. Frankly I don’t care.
But good luck to future bloggng and I will be reading and commenting.
12:31 AM
I thought this was an interesting comment as I had not rejected a single comment. I guess that is what this is all about. I would wonder what kind of evidence you might have that I run the campus like "Hitler"?
7:42 AM
I cannot discuss the Hitler comment, down the road I will.
I know how the academia works; there is a lot of dumb political mumbo jumbo that should not get in the way to assist the students. They should be your primary concern! You are in a position to not to micro manage, but make sure students are getting what they need, to shape the future, to make change. You should be interacting with students on a daily basis, talking with them, offering a time when students can come to you with problems they see facing DSU. This blogg is somewhat a nice anonymous open door policy.
I would love to see change in faculty setting, a rigorous quarterly evaluation process. I also have a problem with 10 year, I don’t believe in this. I think it allows professors to become complacent within education. I have had some terrible professors while attending DSU and some great professors.
10:30 AM
Vincent
I believe you're looking for the word "tenure".
But I will agree with you on the fact that I had some great professors and some horrible professors while attending DSU.
BTW - Congrats on the blog Knowlton.
12:26 PM
hi there
8:20 AM
Dr. Knowlton:
Once again proves himself to be the great communicator, very good, may your other ventures at DSU prove to be equally as good..
8:33 AM
Dr. Knowlton,
Could you start some discussion on the tablet initiative. I would love to get other people's feedback. Students, professors and administrators. I also know first hand that SDSM&T is looking at tablets, and I have been directly contacted for information. I think this would be a great opportunity to advertise how the program has been going the first year and a half. In order to make everything fair we would also want to discuss the good with the bad aspects!
Thanks,
Sheila
8:06 PM
Dr. Knowlton:
Since you started this blog, you have been so quiet, why, that is hard to believe, there has to be many topics of DSU news you have to share with us all. And please explain, why our blogs have to be screened and not posted right away as many other blogs sites are posted. Also sure in the event, one blog is nasty or bad, it can be removed in NY moment.
8:04 PM
You are right that I haven’t been “blogging” lately and hope to get back to it. Because I can’t check the blog on a regular basis I chose to moderate the blog because of the possibility of obscene or comments from individuals that use specific names etc. I would hope that you would understand that this is not just my personal blog but one that does reflect my thinking as it relates to my role as the president of DSU.
9:39 PM
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