How Schools Could Use Social Media

The authors discuss how social media can be used to increase productivity, aid professional development, and improve communication with students, families, and the greater community. For example, some schools use Facebook and Twitter to spread the word about school news and upcoming events. Others host blogs or wikis to share information about particular classes or school projects. The authors do, however, stress the importance of planning ahead before embracing any form of social media.

As a high school principal, one of the greatest benefits of using social media has been connecting with stakeholders by delivering real-time information on student achievements, staff innovations, athletic scores, meetings and important updates to our school Web site. Additionally, the school has benefited from an impactful public relations platform by delivering news and content through tools that our students, parents, and community members use on a routine basis at home. This powerful combination has led to the establishment of a positive brand presence.

Social media is also quickly evolving into the “go to” source for professional development. School leaders can now easily establish their own Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) based on their specific interests and needs. PLNs are free and available 24/7 from anywhere that has an Internet connection. My PLN incorporates Twitter, Google+, Digital Discussion Forums (Educator’s PLN, Classroom 2.0, ASCD Edge, edWeb.net), social bookmarking services (Delicious and Diigo) and Pinterest.

The first step to using social media effectively is to determine your goals, set aside some time to learn, observe how other tech-savvy school leaders are using social media, and inform your community as to how these tools will be used see more...