social media for educators presenter: michael forder

Social Media for Educators

Presenter: Michael Forder

Agenda

• Social media defined• Personal vs. Professional use• Tools of the trade: Twitter,

LinkedIn, Pinterest• How to: access resources• How to: crowd source answers• How to: build your PLC

Why Social Media?

Social Media Defined

…Online media tools developed for the use of instant communication and publishing among individuals.

Social Media Usage

Personal

• Connect with friends and family

• Build a community around personal interests

• Share family photos, humor, messages of personal beliefs

Professional

• Connect with colleagues and associates

• Build a network around educational interests

• Share resources, consult others in your network, harbor discussions

Social Media Usage

Can social media be both personal and professional?

Yes…but

Professionals in your network follow you because of the content you provide, not your thoughts on last night’s episode of the Bachelor.

Best to keep the two areas separate (most of the time)

Tools of the Trade

But What About Facebook?

• More personal than professional• Does not easily set up for link sharing

“Keep it for your friends, choose another path for your colleagues.”

Getting Started: Twitter

• Visit www.twitter.com• Fill in your name, username,

and a password• Follow the prompts to add a few

people to follow

The Ultimate Twitter Guide for TeachersTwitter Cheat Sheet100 Ways to Teach With Twitter

Useful Links

Getting Started: LinkedIn

• Visit www.linkedin.com• Fill in your name, email, and a

password• Follow the six steps for

connecting to others and setting up your account

LinkedIn Guide for Knowledge WorkersTeacher’s Guide to the Use of LinkedIn50 Great LinkedIn Groups for Academics

Useful Links

Getting Started: Pinterest

• Visit www.pinterest.com• Click the join Pinterest button• Create an account using your

email, Twitter, or Facebook account

• Follow at least five boards to get started

Pinterest for TeachersFollow “Power Pinners”4 Ways to Use Pinterest in Education

Useful Links

How to: Access Resources

TWO MAIN METHODS• Searching using a keyword• Browsing through postings of those in your

personal learning network

How to: Access Resources

Twitter• Type one of three items in the search bar

– Topic – returns everything with this term associated with it– @Topic – returns users who have that term in their username– #Topic – only returns postings that used that term as a hashtag

• Browse the results and click on the embedded hyperlinks

You can further limit search results by selecting top, all, or people you follow

How to: Access Resources

LinkedIn• Works best when browsing through groups• Click the search bar and select groups as the search option• Select a group that has active discussions related to your topic• View the discuss to see what resources are available*

*Many groups are private. In this case you must request to join them first before accessing their discussion threads.

How to: Access Resources

Pinterest• Three main methods

1. Use the search bar to look up a specific topic

2. Click on categories at the top of the screen and browse

3. View the links provided by those you are following in your PLN

• Click on any of the images to view the resource on it’s original web page

• Click the repin button to add the link to your Pinterest page and share with your PLN

How to: Crowdsource Answers

What is crowdsourcing?

“the act of obtaining resources or answers from a large group of people, often through digital means”Using social media teachers can pose difficult questions to a nearly limitless community of educators who may have a unique perspective on the problem at hand.

How to: Crowdsource Answers

Twitter• Compose a new tweet• In the tweet include hashtags for terms specific to your question• Consider adding specific users to the tweet with the @ symbol• View the section to see response to your question

Other Twitter users who will see the message directly

Hashtags increase your chances of getting a response

How to: Crowdsource Answers

LinkedIn• For maximum value join a group related to your question topic• Post a new discussion within the group stating your question• Return to LinkedIn (or check your email) to see responses• You also have the opportunity to set up polls to quickly survey group

members– Great when you have multiple answers to a problem to choose from

How to: Crowdsource Answers

Pinterest• Create a pin to a site or image related to your subject• Pose a question in the description asking your PLC to help and

repin• Anyone who is part of your network will see the pin on their

‘following’ page and be able to help with the question at hand– Note: If a person is only following one of your boards and not all of them, they may not see

the message unless it is on that board. Choose the placement of the pin carefully.

How to: Build Your PLC

Professional Learning Community (PLC)Also known as Professional Learning Network

• The people and organizations that:– You follow– Follow you– You share and interact with

How to: Build Your PLC

Twitter• More than just following individuals and businesses

– Must interact with them to build the connections– Favorite tweets, reply to tweets, add their usernames to questions and shout outs

• Do not follow just anyone– Be exclusive, this is your list of go to people in your PLC

• Consider participating in Twitter chats

Check out this article for more informationUtilizing Twitter Chats for Professional Development

How to: Build Your PLC

LinkedIn• Specializes in networking• Two options

– Search for connections (people you already know)• Comes from your contact lists on other sites and your professional

affiliations (schools and businesses)

– Join groups, get to know others and add them to your network

WARNINGUnlike other social media sites,

LinkedIn is not designed for you to connect with strangers. Think of your

connections as references. Do not extend connections to just anyone.

How to: Build Your PLC

Pinterest• Start by searching for colleagues and other professionals using the

Friends to Follow link• Browse for topics of interest to you• Begin to follow boards that include quality content• Follow the board creators if their interests are closely aligned to

yours• Comment on their pins and boards to create connections

– Two way communication is necessary

Start small, stay focused, and be patient. PLCs are relationships.

Relationships need time to develop.

Concluding ThoughtsSocial media is about

connecting with others who share a similar interest, experience, or concern.

An online PLC provides you with

additional brainpower you will never find in one school building.

Presentation Resources

Presenter: Michael ForderEmail: fordermj@staffordschools.net orfordermj@gmail.com Twitter: @MichaelforderLinkedIn: Michael ForderPinterest: edugeek53Diigo: edugeek53

PRESENTATION BACKCHANNELS

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