An Introduction to Social Media

Getting Started with Blogging, Twitter, and FacebookAn Introduction to Social MediaWhat have you done this week?

Learning ObjectivesIn this workshop you will:

Learn basic definitions and services classified as social mediaUnderstand the essentials of bloggingDiscover how to create a basic page on Facebook for an organizationLearn the basics of Twitter, including account creation and search featuresConsider the important implications of Web 2.0 for educators in general, and judicial educators in particularLearn some best practices for using Twitter and other social networking tools in an educational environment3World Wide Web 1.0Passive viewing of contentStatic websitesBasic commercial interactionsPrimarily focused on consumption of media or products created by others

World Wide Web 2.0Active interaction with and creation of contentActive websitesAdvanced, niche commercial interactionsEndless stream of user-created content

Social MediaA group of Internet-based applications based onWeb 2.0Allow the creation and exchange ofuser-generated content. Depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platformsIndividuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content.Introduces immense changes to communication between organizations, communities, and individuals.

Todays ExamplesBlogging (via Google Blogger)FacebookTwitterSo What Is Blogging?Contraction of web logA stream of small, discrete postsAppear in reverse chronological orderOften interactive, allowing users to leave comments, etc.Can be multi-topic and even multi-author

Rod Dreher, Crunchy Conservative

Creating a Blog of Your Own

The Least You Need To KnowGo to www.blogger.comLog in with your Google accountSelect New Blog on the left, and pick a template.Start writing!Insert photos, links, formatting, etc.Set up your viewing permissionsCheck out how it looks!

Why would educators use a blog instead of a traditional website?

Use a blog whenYour focus is on the most recent notices and eventsYou are posting content in a wide variety of media typesYou are linking content from a wide variety of sourcesYou dont need total control over contentYoure seeking dialog and interactionA more informal atmosphere is desirable

Blogging for the lazy

Facebook makes blogging easierHow do I format the page?How do I find an audience?How do I link different pages together?How to I manage comments?

Facebook Profiles vs. PagesProfilePagesA personal blogPresents information about your private life and interestsPrimarily for keeping in touch with family, friends, associates, etc.Designed to be attached to a single, real, human beingClassic conception of a Facebook pageDesigned for organizations, groups, companies, or other entities.Can be used for the public persona of an individual as wellProvides customer service point of contact, product information, etc.Numerous style choices from which to chooseCreating a Facebook PageCreate an account at www.facebook.comSelect Create a pageChoose from the six available page typesBegin inputting your contentAs with a blog, you can:Insert text, pictures, or videosInsert links to other sites or pagesManage and respond to commentHow about creating a Group?Allows you to create groups that are private and securedAllows you to limit messaging between group membersIncludes discussion forumsYou can edit and create group documentsYou can set up group chats

Go to: www.facebook.com/groupsSo Why Go With Facebook?Immense name recognitionHuge user baseStable, well-known platformMost of the aesthetic choices are dealt with for youTies in to almost every other social media platform in one way or another

Facebook for EducatorsThe majority of your students and colleagues are already on it.Despite the commonly-heard tropes, there are strong privacy options you can set to limit access.Fan pages can be created for individual teachers in an organization to communicate with and receive feedback from students.Groups can be made for working sub-committees, projects, panels, teams, etc.But I Dont Have Time For All That!

Getting Started with Twitter

Twitter Blogging for Those Strugglingwith Attention Deficit IssuesMicrobloggingA free social networking service that lets its users send and receive short messages known as tweetsMessages are limited to 140 characters or lessAll of the tweets you send and receive comprise your tweet stream.

Twitter StatisticsLaunch date: March 21st, 2006Around a billion registered users300 billion tweets have been sentAverage number of followers per user: 208Percentage of ages 15 through 34 using Twitter: 29%

27So How Does This Thing Work?

How Do I Get Started?Go to www.twitter.com and go through the registration processSelect some people or organizations to followPublic figuresPersonal friendsOrganizations such as businesses, government entities, etc.Create a profile that demonstrates your interests and personaBegin tweeting and responding to tweetsAs you get followers, take a moment to interact with them

I Want More Followers!Be interesting! Make a strong profile with a good avatar pictureBe transparent, helpful, and a little provocativeTweet and retweet oftenUse hashtagsTweet media and valuable linksFollow people who follow people who are like youAsk people to retweetFollow topics or hashtags and retweetRepeat your best work

Twitter Facilitates CollaborationStudents can engage deeply with other students, instructors, interested parties, etc.Material can be made personal and immediateLearners can be connected to broader community involved in related realms

Twitter in the ClassroomAllow students to respond to or ask questionsGathering news or current event informationCollecting data and statisticsCommunicating up-to-date class informationTransmitting links to potentially valuable materialOrganizing meetings and class schedulesSharing best practices and innovative ideasA Few Best PracticesMaintain separate personal and professional accountsIts much harder letting people go than it is to not take them on in the first placeDont count on deletion to save you. The Internet is like Velveeta:It lasts foreverIt never tastes any better than it did the first timeKeep focused. Let people know what they can expect from you.Build a brandBuild relationshipsDevelop a social media policy that does what the police do:ProtectServeBalance security with usefulness

Social Media Hero or Villain?A source of endless distractionAll of us are strongerthan any of us