Well, if They're Already Using It …

Andy Guess writes in Inside Higher Ed about various ideas that cropped up at the Educause conference – considering tools that students are using, and how/ if those should be incorporated into institutional offering.
One example he quoted was Northwestern’s decision to use gmail for their email system. The advantages were that the students were getting a Northwestern.edu email address – but the system was gmail – which many are familiar with; and allows the integration of other email accounts the students undoubtely have. It also gave them access to online (shareable) calendars (previously a staff only offering).
He also considered how systems such as Facebook might, or might not, be used educationally. I’ve seen this debate in several places now; and one point that gets raised is “Do Students want it” – even if it could be built. One suggestion that did seem sensible was to create an application to enable new students to find flatmates.