I read your article and I can't but agree that we must tackle the engagement problem collectively. A lot of people take a part in social media websites.As for me I want students to learn how to present themselves online in a global context.
Doing this gives students a chance to collaborate with each other, maintaining their own network and extending it around many countries.
After reading the review found at http://www.pdfok.com I learned that Europeans use social media in different ways. The UK and Russia are the most active European countries when it comes to social media use. In these countries almost half of the internet population manages a social network profile, which is about ten percent more than users in countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Germany.Germany and France are amongst the least active countries. Like in the US most social network profiles are managed by the younger generations. The older Europeans get, the less likely they are to be on social media.

I prepared an overview of my experiences designing and teaching the post grad level course in social media for Humber's PR program for Social Media Week Toronto, but was flat on my back with flu and had to cancel.

I will do a make up presentation at a forth coming Wiki Tuesday. I will let you know the date. You or some in your tribe may be interested.

I launched a network on Ning to support the course and we have over 90 mentors from all over the world (Singapore, Australia, LA to NYC as well as great Canadians) engaged for about 240 students. It would be great to have you join at http://www.humberpr.ning.com. The course is almost paperless.

Mentors are involved in coaching students about their online identities and evaluations that are performed entirely online. By now the course outline is probably the most vetted in college history. We would value your comments here: http://humberpr.ning.com/forum/topics/social-me.... I asked Howard Rheingold, who designs and teaches in this area at Stanford & Berkeley, to review and he offered, “Your syllabus looks rich and comprehensive.”.

I completely agree with your points re: incentives above. I need to move onto other things now that the wrinkles are ironed out for a variety of reasons, but relationships not financial incentives were key to this “start up”.

I go into the schools from time to time to get an idea of the pulse of our future and I tell you some of these teachers need to be sent back to school to remember how boring school can be. They could increase their classroom budgets by eliminating the daily worksheets they handout to students and spend more time talking to the students instead of burying them in busy work.

High school is my favorite they have great ideas but rarely are allowed to express their creative genius. The progressive teachers who try to implement digital engagement strategies in the classroom are penalized for stepping out of the box. Thank goodness for the magnet trade schools that are preparing students for the real world.

Good to chat with you. Looking forward to having you as a guest on the show soon.