#rotoloclass

DUDE CHECK THESE CRAZY KIDS OUT! 

For Brenda.

Later this morning, I’ll step foot in a classroom at Syracuse University.  I’m enrolled in the School of Information Studies' (iSchool for short) IST 686, Social Media in the Enterprise, also known as #RotoloClass.  I’m alternately giddy with excitement and scared stiff.

My road to #RotoloClass was a bit amusing.  I’ve known about the class for several semesters, even having followed along with some online Tweet chats (scheduled real-time Twitter conversations) last summer.  I wasn’t able to fit the class into my schedule this past fall, and decided that I had to take advantage in spring 2012.

As the early registration date neared this past November, I started to get my ducks in a row amidst a bit of confusion and consternation.  There was an undergraduate section of the course as well as a graduate section, but the latter was online only.  That would simply not do, since I had heard a lot about the unique and engaging #RotoloClass classroom experience.

I am nothing if not persistent, so I explored multiple options to determine which course to take.  I contacted the course Twitter account, monitored by the graduate assistant (how apropos).  I checked out office hours (they were by appointment only).  I sent an email to the professor (oh so 1990s).  I visited the iSchool advising office (very welcoming).  I was gathering information, but not enough to know for which class to register, and time was drawing short.

One day, the professor tweeted an inquiry as to who was registering for the class. I replied, and the connection between my email and tweet was made.  The next day, I did what many people on Twitter do: engaged in a conversation, following up on some recent posts about the professor's experience with the recent iPhone 4S launch.  Then - with a guilty conscience, mind you - I hijacked our brief convo and inquired if he had time for a chat.

That was good enough for me.  I trotted over to the classroom, sat in on the class, and had what was was probably the most fun 75 minutes of my entire fall.  I visited with the professor after class and received direction on which class to take.  I successfully registered for #RotoloClass.

And here I go.  (Wish me luck!)