Social Media... Tell Your Story Before Someone Else Does!

Social Media... A Love Hate Relationship

Social Media can be a time sucker, but it can also be the best way to reach an audience in a positive way.  It's out there, we can't fight it, so we may as well use it to benefit our school communities.

I've been reading Lead Like A Pirate by Shelley Burgess @burgess_shelley and Beth Houf @bethhouf.  Really, If it has PIRATE in the title, I'm going to read it.   I'm not an administrator, but all educational stakeholders can play a leadership role if they are passionate about making their schools amazing, right?!    

Unleash Social Media To Tell Your School's Story

In Lead Like A Pirate, Chapter 15 got me thinking a lot about our current practices using Social Media, how we get information out to parents and teachers, as well as how the Special Education population is often afraid to use Social Media in fear of law suites and breaking privacy laws.  It's so much to THINK about before a Special Education teacher posts, most feel like it's not worth it to even bother.   Is there a way around this?  I think there is! 

Here are my "take-aways" from this chapter.  The "Why" quotes by Shelley and Beth, the ideas of what to use to get your message out using Social Media, and the books mentioned that can give you more ideas to "Tell Your Story before someone else does".   I work as an Instructional Technology Specialist with our Special Education Department, so I wanted to share a few ways we can use social media for our population, since we are usually the last to want to put thing out there for the public to see.  

​How can Special Ed Teachers Share without "Breaking the Rules"?

1. When taking pictures of students, make sure their parents have signed media releases before posting anything.  You may even want to create a "no photos" image for their desks and/or devices so visitors will also know that they can't be photographed. 

2.  If you aren't comfortable sharing pictures of your students, take pictures of activities creatively.  Maybe only having students' hands in the pictures, or put emoji's over student faces before posting.  
The purpose is to share the good things going on in our classrooms, not to call out our kids who have disabilities. 
3.  Don't use student names in your posts so it's not tied to their digital footprint if searched. 
4. Use a class hashtag and/or a school hashtag.   Be proud of what you do in your class and your students will too.  
5. Have one place where parents can access any information they may need without having to contact you directly.  
Ideas: A class website with a quick link section for all social media,  A "contact me" section so you can be contacted easily,  A Google Form for anonymous feedback on communication between school and home,  A bio about you so you're transparent about your experience, passions and interests. 

Now what? 

There are so many tools out there! Don't get overwhelmed with using the technology just because it's cool (because it is).  Look at what you are already doing, what's working, what's not?  Pick one thing you'd like to change for next  year and start there.  

I myself am excited to start using Smore for our department newsletters.  We've sent out a "Bulletin" every other week in the past, but I'm not sure how many people actually read them.  Smore will give us a way to see what information is viewed most.  It will also be a nice way to have parent newletters as well as professional development offerings.    It's really hard for a large district like ours to come together in one location, so we have to get creative when providing ways for teachers to access learning opportunities.   

Another thing I'd like to do is to have monthly Twitter chats around topics that are relevant to our Special Education population and environments.  Even if we start with a few teachers and/or adminstrators, it will be time well spent for the ones involved.   I'm hoping #BCSDSpEdChat will be a success and other Special Education teachers will join from around the world to give our district ideas to improve how we serve children.  

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It's going to be a great year!

What are you inspired to do differently next schol year?  I hope you'll leave a comment or share your thoughts on Twitter.  Don't forget to tag me @specialtechie
​I look forward to connecting with you!