ITS SM-CDT study plan

Define each major platform category (feed-based social network, short-video, messaging, forum/community, professional network) and state two structural features that shape content strategy on each

Compare how algorithmically ranked feeds versus chronological or subscription feeds change reach, posting cadence, and creative format choices

Map the core vocabulary of social media concepts (engagement, reach, impression, algorithm, hashtag, native format) into a personal glossary with a one-line definition and example for each term

Draft a content brief for one post per platform category, specifying native format, aspect ratio, caption length, and intended call to action

Produce a short vertical video end to end: script it, capture it on a phone, cut it in an editor, add captions, and export at platform-correct resolution and bitrate

Build a reusable asset workflow that names files consistently, separates raw from exported media, and stores everything in a shared drive with version labels

Create a small brand kit (color values, two type styles, logo lockup, caption template) and apply it consistently across three different post formats

Explain the difference between file containers and codecs, and choose export settings that balance quality against upload size for each target platform

Write a community engagement policy that sets response-time targets, tone guidelines, escalation paths, and rules for handling criticism

Practice writing three reply types (helpful answer, appreciative response, de-escalation) for realistic comment scenarios and critique each against the tone guidelines

Identify the roles inside a moderation team and describe how a triage queue sorts reports by severity and urgency

Analyze two real public brand responses to complaints and judge which techniques reduced tension and which amplified it

Configure a scheduling and publishing tool so that a week of posts across two platforms goes out automatically, with correct alt text and captions attached

Set up a simple approval workflow in a shared workspace so a second person can review and sign off before anything publishes

Explain the data-protection obligations that apply when collecting follower or subscriber information, including consent, storage limits, and deletion requests

Identify disclosure requirements for sponsored or gifted content and rewrite three sample posts so the disclosure is clear and prominent

Define a small set of KPIs (reach, engagement rate, follower growth, click-through, sentiment) and state the decision each metric should drive

Build a spreadsheet dashboard that pulls a week of manual metrics and calculates engagement rate correctly per platform

Interpret a metric trend and write a short recommendation that separates correlation from causation

Audit a sample content calendar for accessibility (alt text, captions, contrast, plain language) and list every fix required

Design a repeatable content production pipeline from idea capture through briefing, drafting, review, scheduling, and publishing, with an owner named for each stage

Create a batch-production session plan that yields a week of assets in a single sitting, including templates that cut per-post effort

Test two automation options (for example, a content calendar template versus a scheduling tool's queue) and record which reduces manual steps without losing quality control

Document a backup and handover procedure so another team member can run the pipeline for a week without asking questions

Compare how the same core message must be adapted for three different platforms while staying within each platform's norms and length limits

Evaluate a set of platform policy rules (harassment, misinformation, intellectual property) and describe what they mean for a brand's publishing decisions

Practice applying copyright and fair-use reasoning to images, music, and user-generated content, and replace three risky assets with licensed alternatives

Assess a crisis scenario and draft a holding statement plus a response sequence that follows the ethics and transparency principles studied so far

Assemble a capstone campaign plan that integrates platform choice, content production, community response, tooling, and measurement in one coherent document

Run a timed practice set of mixed questions across all five domains and review every wrong answer to the underlying concept

Present the capstone's KPI targets and explain how each will be measured and reported

Write a personal readiness checklist naming weak areas, the resources to revisit, and a retest date