Using Social Media to Improve Classroom and School Communications

These are my notes from Jason Neiffer‘s breakout session, “Using Social Media to Improve Classroom and School Communications,” on August 8, 2012, at the Blackfoot Educational Technology Conference in Missoula, Montana. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. All referenced links/websites from this session are on www.workshophandouts.com/blackfoot12socialmedia. I GOT TO THIS SESSION A LITTLE LATE, SO THESE NOTES ARE NOT COMPLETE. GREAT SESSION!

ADDITION 9/3/2012: THE LIVEBINDER EMBED CODES BROKE MY FEEDBURNER RSS FEED, SO I’VE REMOVED THEM BUT KEPT THE DIRECT LINKS.

1. Social media presence should be planned: messaging is important

2. Accurate, up-to-date information beats out function, function beats out form

3. Unofficial presences are as important as official channels

4. Student voice is as important as adult voice

This Livebinder includes examples of school websites effectively leveraging social media

Social Media in Schools Examples: Classroom Websites

Options:

1- Simple
– Coded website, School Wires

2- Blogging Platforms
– EduBlogs, KidBlog, Blogger, Blog.com, TypePad, Jux, Tumblr, Posetrous, Weebly, LiveJOurnal

Serverside Content Management
– Moodle, Joomla, Drupal

Social Media in Schools: Utilizing Facebook

Social Media in Schools: Twitter

Social Media in Schools: Media Channels

Strategy:
– Make social media an assignment for staff (or students); don’t assume it will just get done
– Accept social media as a public relations strategy

Great post on educational social media strategy: “Think Of Your Social Media Strategy Like a Dress Code” by Brendan Schneider

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