Social Media for Educators

1. Social Media for Educators Presenter: Michael Forder

2. 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

3. Why Social Media?

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

5. Social Media Usage Personal Professional Connect with colleaguesand associates Build a network around educational interests Share resources, consult others in your network, harbor discussions • Connect with friends and family • Build a community around personal interests • Share family photos, humor, messages of personal beliefs

6. 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)

7. Tools of the Trade

8. 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.”

9. 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 Useful Links The Ultimate Twitter Guide for Teachers Twitter Cheat Sheet 100 Ways to Teach With Twitter

10. 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 Useful Links LinkedIn Guide for Knowledge Workers Teacher’s Guide to the Use of LinkedIn 50 Great LinkedIn Groups for Academics

11. 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 Useful Links Pinterest for Teachers Follow “Power Pinners” 4 Ways to Use Pinterest in Education

12. How to: Access Resources Two main methods • Searching using a keyword • Browsing through postings of those in your personal learning network

13. 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

14. 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.

15. How to: Access Resources Pinterest • Three main methods • Use the search bar to look up a specific topic • Click on categories at the top of the screen and browse • 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 repinbutton to add the link to your Pinterest page and share with your PLN

16. 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.

17. 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 Hashtags increase your chances of getting a response Other Twitter users who will see the message directly

18. 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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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 information Utilizing Twitter Chats for Professional Development

22. 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 Warning Unlike 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.

23. 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

24. Concluding Thoughts Social 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. Start small, stay focused, and be patient. PLCs are relationships. Relationships need time to develop.

25. Presentation Resources Presenter:Michael Forder Email: fordermj@staffordschools.netor fordermj@gmail.com Twitter: @Michaelforder LinkedIn: Michael Forder Pinterest: edugeek53 Diigo: edugeek53 Presentation backchannels http://todaysmeet.com/JRMAC13 www.tweetchat.com/room/JRMAC2013 Download This Presentation PowerPoint Google Presentation Building Your PLC Starter List