Using LinkedIn in the economics curriculum

Abstract

Social media is becoming a more widely used tool to engage students in learning. LinkedIn (linkedin.com) is a professional social networking platform that most college students are encouraged to use, but it is not widely used as an educational tool. In this article, the author describes how LinkedIn was deployed in a principles course to teach students how to differentiate themselves in the labor market and to showcase their ability to apply economics to everyday life and/or their career interests by creating posts on their newsfeed. A feedback survey indicated that students felt this course project using LinkedIn was a valuable learning experience. Other examples are also given for using LinkedIn in the economics curriculum and with program assessment.

Keywords:

• Applied learning
• assessment
• LinkedIn
• social media

JEL code:

• A22

Disclosure statement

The author reports that there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings from the student feedback survey are available on request from the corresponding author. The data that assess the results of the graded student submissions are not publicly available due to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.