The competition searched for people currently working for a college or learning provider in the UK who are using social media to improve learning and teaching or create positive change within their organisation.
The final line-up – taken from nominations and a panel of social media experts, including former principal education adviser and chair of the government’s computing expert group, Bob Harrison, Stephen Exley, further education editor at Times Education Supplement, and James Clay and Sarah Knight from Jisc – features everyone from college managers and leaders, to tutors and support staff, on social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google Plus and YouTube.
Below are just some of this year’s social media stars. The full list from Jisc is available on the #jisc50social Twitter list.
Neil Bardo at Reading College; if you want to know what’s for lunch at Reading College’s industry standard training restaurant The Kitchen, then make sure you follow Neil Bardo and The Kitchen on Twitter! Neil regularly posts photographs of what the students are conjuring up in the training restaurant, and shares his experience of his students’ work with top chefs across Berkshire. @NeilBardo
Kate Bottley at North Nottingham College; Kate is a college chaplain at North Notts College who uses social media to support students and colleagues in her chaplaincy work. She writes for the Times Educational Supplement and has hit the headlines with her ‘flashmob wedding’ video that went viral, and being ‘the vicar on Gogglebox’! @revkatebottley
Fern Faux at National Star College; Fern works at the National Star College, a specialist college for people with disabilities, as their ILT coordinator. She uses Twitter to update staff and others on her work in embedding the use of learning technologies in their college. Fern writes her own blog, reflecting on technology in learning for people with disabilities in her ‘Thinking Space’. @FernFaux
Nikki Gilbey at Chichester College; Nikki is head of learning – landbased at Chichester College. Her Twitter feed offers a fascinating and entertaining insight into life at a landbased college. @gillersn
David Hiddleston at Edinburgh College and University of Delhi; Edinburgh College and Delhi University have worked together on a British Council (UKIERI) funded project, Digital Literacy for Tomorrow’s Education (DLITE), and developed a digital literacy programme for teachers in the UK and India. @DavidHiddleston
Becky Kay at Preston’s College; part of Becky’s role as operations manager of the newly constructed iSTEM facility at Preston’s College is to be a focal point for communications and has used Twitter to impressive ends. She acts as advocate and ambassador for STEM, and women in STEM particularly. @iSTEMopsmanager
Deb Millar at Blackburn College; Deb founded and curates the Learning Wheel, a collaborative online movement to support staff in FE to implement technological tools and use social media. @learningwheel @DebMillar24
Edward Powell at Bath College; Edd Powell runs the creative media production course using digital and social media platforms, engaging his students with innovative, industry-style projects.He writes his own blog to share his methods and experience. @edd_powell
Amanda Reeve at Hull College; Amanda teaches theatrics, media and special effects make up at Hull College. As make-up artistry is mainly freelance, she uses Instagram and Twitter with her students – past and present – to showcase their achievements. @ReeveAmanda
Seb Schmoller at The Sheffield College; Seb is a governor of The Sheffield College, and blogs and tweets regularly about developments in online learning. He is the brains and driving force behindCitizen Maths, a popular, innovative free online learning resource for adults to learn maths, using Twitter and Facebook. @sebschmoller
Sarah Simons at UKFEchat; Sarah established #ukfechat, the largest network of FE practitioners, and has facilitated hundreds of weekly discussions. @theukfechat @MrsSarahSimons
Simon Wardman; Simon’s regular Teachability blog contains articles and posts primarily concerned with out-of-classroom collaborative activities for language learners. Some of his posts look into how to integrate mobile devices into language classes. Simon uses Twitter to broadcast Vine and Youtube videos in his work with language students. @NottinghamColle