Edelman Digital Bootcamp: Energizing and Exhausting

Have you ever felt exhausted at the end of a day? I’m sure we all have, especially when the day is filled with physical activity. But have you ever felt worn out after a day when you spent the day involved in intense listening?

That happened to me just yesterday. Even so, I didn’t even once feel the need to raise my hand, like the student in Gary Larson’s Far Side cartoon, and say, “May I please be excused? My head is full.” If it’s possible, I came away from that day both exhausted and energized . . . so many great ideas were generated and shared on how to make social media an integral part of the public relations strategies.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Edelman Digital Bootcamp, hosted by the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. This intense one-day workshop was designed for students and educators from throughout the Southeast. In addition to a large contingent from UGA, several other schools were represented: Kennesaw State College, Clemson University, University of West Florida, Georgia Southern University and Auburn University (War Eagle!).

The news release prior to the event described Edelman Digital Bootcamp like this:

Edelman, the world’s leading independent public relations firm, seeks to provide students and educators hands-on skills integration training about the professional use of new media.

Bootcamp participants will break into teams and Edelman practitioners will direct them in a mock campaign. Students will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Edelman facilitators to research, design and implement a social media solution for the assigned client. This approach will allow students to network with professionals while also gaining hands-on experience.

An additional track will be available to educators, focused more on sharing ideas and encouraging the adoption of new media in more communication curricula throughout the Southeast. Educators will have the opportunity to discuss the practicalities of teaching new media, share lesson plans and more.

Edelman intends to expand its Digital Bootcamp to other college campuses across the nation in what they hope will become an annual event.

As the day progressed, I had my notebook computer out and used del.icio.us to make note of the websites mentioned during several of the presentations. You’ll find that list below; most of the sites are free to use. I’ll share more of my thoughts on the bootcamp later this week, especially on Tweeting and its effect my listening during the day.

• Ning – Create your own Social Networks!
• Ning in Education
• Ask a Ninja – The Ninternship
• http://www.skype.com/ :: Make calls from your computer — free to other people on Skype and cheap to landlines and cell phones around the world.
• Amazon.com: Flip Video Camcorder: 60-Minutes (White): Electronics
• Utterz – Mobile post to your blog or social network page
• Ustream.tv
• TubeMogul.com – Online Video Distribution and Analytics
• http://chris.pirillo.com/
• Internet Radio, Citizen Broadcasting, Social Media Podcasts – Blog Talk Radio
• Real-time Twitter Search – Tweet Scan :: see what we were Tweeting about at the EDB
• Kall8 800 Numbers & Toll Free Number Services :: Kall8 is the only fully integrated toll-free service that offers traditional 800 service with a complete set of online tools to manage and track your toll free numbers in real time. With Kall8, you can instantly activate and forward your 800 numbers, view
• QIK | Streaming video right from your phone :: Ready to stream live videos from your phone?
• http://www.krazydad.com/blog/
• Upcoming Webinar to Focus on the Evolving Social Media Release
• Bloglines :: Stay up-to-the minute on all your favorite news, blogs and feeds. Sign-up now. It’s Free.
• Google Reader
• BlogPulse
• Forward Blog » Blog Archive » A little nerd knowledge never hurt anyone ::  To provide a comprehensive, ever-evolving, online springboard for students and young professionals in PR. Hosted by Auburn grad Erin Caldwell.
• The Long Tail: Sorry PR people: you’re blocked
• Edelman Digital Bootcamp — Educator Materials | Edelman Digital Bootcamp
• Communication Overtones
• Die! Press release! Die! Die! Die!
• PR Prospects :: PR Prospects is all about sharing new PR talent with the organizations and agencies that need them. Please meet these Auburn University students. Give them your consideration.
• kaye.sweetser’s favorites tagged with “adpr3510” on del.icio.us :: PR Research Method Class at UGA – ADPR3510 :: Links & resources for PR Research Method class at UGA taught by Dr. Kaye Sweetser.
• TextMarks :: Welcome – Make information accessible from any cell phone – via text messages. Coordinate Activities. Express Yourself!
• Swift :: Mobile Site Creation, WAP Builder and Mobile Marketing Tools
• Crazy People (1990) :: A bitter ad executive who has reached his breaking point, finds himself in a mental institution where his career actually begins to thrive with the help of the hospital’s patients.
• FeedBurner :: Start FeedBurning Now. Type your feed or blog URL below.