My teaching at Notre Dame : Testament to networking through the net
One of my dreams has been to go back to the University of Notre Dame, where I went for undergrad, to teach a class on networking through the Internet at the business or law school. I also dream of helping Notre Dame become a social enterprise, meaning a school that uses social media to advance its causes and beliefs.
A week ago I had the pleasure of teaching a class of second semester seniors in Notre Dame’s Mendoza Business School. The class was on social media and I taught a session on blogging.
Professor John Weber, who was teaching in the business school while I was there, was the professor. He put together a heck of class where he has 3 TA’s doing research and helping him on the social media front.
Each Monday they hit the nuts and bolts of a subject. On Wednesday they’ll have a person like me with expertise on the subject come in and teach.
The kids were bright has heck, interested as all get out in social media, and asked probing questions that matched anything I get from legal professionals.
Get ready for social enterprises becoming real social enterprises. These kids have a desire to learn and a desire to set the world on fire.
I am thrilled to have been invited back for next year.
How did I get to teach at Notre Dame? Professor Weber contacted me. ‘Weebs,’ as those on campus call him, including the students, had heard about me from Don Schindler, who was managing digital and web properties for Notre Dame at the time.
How did Schindler know me? Through my networking through the Internet. I still have not had the pleasure of meeting Don.
Networking seemed the best way to get invited to Notre Dame. What else was I going to do? Call them up and say “I am a great guy who knows a lot about networking through the net, you ought to invite me back to speak and help you become more social.” I’d look a nut.
So I started following and engaging folks at Notre Dame. Bloggers, people who used Twitter, and writers/reporters at Notre Dame newspapers and magazines. I set up RSS feeds from these sources as well as a RSS feed from Google News on “Notre Dame.”
By sharing what people were writing, doing a few blog posts referencing their writings and work, connecting on LinkedIn, and engaging folks via Twitter, I got to know Schindler and other people at Notre Dame.
It wasn’t that hard to do this. It was also a lot of fun and very rewarding. Heck, who doesn’t want to connect with their undergrad in a real and meaningful way.
It looks like I’ll be teaching a session on networking through the Internet at Notre Dame’s law school in March. The career development office at the school sees an opportunity to help students nurture relationships and build a reputation by using the Internet for networking.
Who knows where my work with Notre Dame is headed? I just feel very blessed to reconnect with the school and what it stands for – service to others.
Want a fun and inspiring way to learn how to network through the Internet? Networking you can use for professional development and business development. Reconnect with your undergrad like I did.
Find the areas and people who have interests in common with you and who are passionate about the things you are passionate about. Follow them and their writings. Engage them through blogging, Twitter, LinkedIn, and even, Facebook.
It’s 80 times more rewarding than reading your alma mater’s magazine each quarter to see who from your class did what. It’ll also grow your network of people with similar interests you can learn from.
Who knows? Maybe it’ll even get you an invite to teach, an opportunity to help your school (beyond giving money), and tickets to a football game. I have not received the latter.