Tech Tonic expo April 10 aims to help students navigate social media

Social media and mobile computing have forever changed the way people see and interact with the world. These simple yet powerful tools connect us with friends, colleagues and collaborators. They allow us to expand ourselves in ways that that we never could have dreamed possible. We can teach a class where students are half a world away or share an intimate moment with friends across town or across the globe.

Of course, sometimes a brave new world needs a guide to get us through it.

Western Washington University faculty members Mark Staton and Adriana Manago will speak on career networking and growing up with social media at the annual Tech Tonic technology expo slated for April 10 in the Wilson Library Reading Room on campus.

The event, under the theme "Getting Yourself Out There" will be geared at helping students understand the world of social media and give them tools for enhancing their digital identities online.

Small workshops called "lightning round" sessions will be held throughout the day on topics such as using LinkedIn, getting your name online, crafting a social media strategy, using Twitter effectively and using tools such as Evernote, Skitch, Adobe iDraw, and LastPass.

From 10 to 11 a.m., Mark Staton, an assistant professor of marketing in the WWU College of Business and Economics, will present "Career Networking Through Digital Marketing."

"Digital marketing and social media have made it ever easier to find your dream career," Staton said. In his presentation, Staton will explain some simple steps to help students in their transitions to professionals.

From 2 to 3 p.m., Adriana Manago, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at WWU, will present "Growing up with Social Media: New Challenges and Opportunities for Identity Development."

Admission is free and open to the campus and area communities.

For more information, visit https://wwutechtonic.wordpress.com/.