My Final Assignment for NUTR 220 and the Tufts Certificate Program!

Well, here I am at the end of NUTR 220 and the end of the certificate program. Could 52 weeks have passed so quickly? Time flies when you’re learning a lot!

Regarding topics about which I learned the most, I’ve identified six (although this list is hardly exhaustive):

·         Platforms: I never realized how many there are! Although I did not actively engage with all of them, it was a good exercise to sign up for accounts. My social media world has been primarily limited to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Flickr. There’s a world of platforms out there to investigate.

·         Influencer Relations: This topic was new to me. I enjoyed hearing anecdotes from Amanda and Michelle about their experiences with bloggers. It must be both exciting and scary to be entering this frontier, as it’s such new territory.

·         Social TV: Until this class, I didn’t realize how popular second screen activity was while watching first screen programs. I’m intrigued to see how social TV develops. I imagine all screens will eventually merge into one, some being static, some mobile, but containing the entire experience.

·         Traakr: I was quite impressed and intrigued by this company. Social media metrics are still a big question mark for me. It’s good to know that there are smart people out there leading the way.

·         Literature Review: A first for me. I’ve always written and published papers in the humanities, which does not require the same sort of rigor expected in the sciences and social sciences. I can’t say my lit review was “traditional,’” given my topic, but I now know how to produce one if the need arises.

·         APA Style: Ditto. I’ve always used MLA. It was a challenge for me not to be creative with language, but to keep the tone of the final paper direct and straightforward. So, so different from the humanities.

As for topics I need to explore further:

·         Metrics: I am a newbie for sure. I plan to dive into this area in the next few months. It’s exciting that there are so many tools out there to explore, and that so many of them are free. I can learn a lot about my Twitter handle specifically, as currently I have little idea how visible it is in the social media space.

·         Strategy: I want to take everything I’ve learned and create a truly coherent social media presence, both personally and professionally. What platforms are best suited for my goals? What are my goals to begin with? How can social media support them and move them forward?

Short and sweet!

Signing off,

Jim