social media in education -

Beyond BlockingEmbracing the social web : 

Beyond BlockingEmbracing the social web By Melanie McBridehttp://melaniemcbride.net This work is licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License An introduction to social media tools and trends for information managers in education.

The value of social media isn’t always clear : 

The value of social media isn’t always clear

So let’s look at the facts. : 

So let’s look at the facts.

Slide 4: 

5 facts

1. It's not a fad : 

1. It's not a fad

2. A sharing revolution : 

2. A sharing revolution

3. Of many-to-many : 

3. Of many-to-many

4. A read-write culture : 

4. A read-write culture

5. Where user is King : 

5. Where user is King

= new opportunities : 

= new opportunities

and challenges. : 

and challenges.

Slide 12: 

2.0 who gets it right?

Let’s start with the website. : 

Let’s start with the website.

Social web look fors : 

Social web look fors Sharing tools(bookmarking, social media) Blogs with commenting Multiple delivery formats (Twitter, Google Reader, Email, RSS, Print) Embedding options for video and media Invites to participation ‏Little or no registration Customizable features

School Boards 2.0: Exemplars : 

School Boards 2.0: Exemplars

Slide 16: 

Robust 2.0 platform: CMS

Slide 17: 

Participatory features

Tools for sharing : 

Tools for sharing

RSS feeds (really simple syndication) : 

RSS feeds (really simple syndication)

More visual media: video : 

More visual media: video

2.0 Objectives for information officers: : 

2.0 Objectives for information officers: Create multiple points of participation Transform read-only content into read-write, many-to-many conversations Listen to and engage user-visitors Co-create with your community Provide non-essential controls to users (e.g., text size, tools) Accept that you do not “control” the message but guide it

Getting social:Where to start? : 

Getting social:Where to start?

5 : 

5 Essential Trends

“How do we encourageour members to share and distribute our content?” : 

“How do we encourageour members to share and distribute our content?”

1. Sharing: Social Bookmarking : 

1. Sharing: Social Bookmarking Purpose: Allows your readers to select their chosen social sharing tool Cost: Free Technical requirements: Basic Get it here: http://sharethis.com/ Value for organisations: Provides a variety of bookmarking tools, increases visitors and site loyalty Tip: Provide a “how to” section for those new to these tools. Offer some screen captures of the bookmarking tool in action. Use on all pages!

“How can we automate our information delivery (beyond email and list servs)?” : 

“How can we automate our information delivery (beyond email and list servs)?”

2. RSS: Alternative delivery formats : 

2. RSS: Alternative delivery formats Purpose: Allows reader-users to subscribe to and aggregate your content. Cost: FREE Technical requirements: Simple! Learn how here: here Value for orgnanisations: Increases distribution options (mobile, social spaces, RSS readers, blogs) Tip: Try to offer RSS for all major sections of the website. Create a page of feeds with some “how to” information for new users. Offer email options as well as RSS.

“How do we establish and manage our board’s reputation in social spaces?” : 

“How do we establish and manage our board’s reputation in social spaces?”

3. Social groups: Reach : 

3. Social groups: Reach Purpose: Extends your identity into social spaces, shapes your context from within (rather than without) Cost: Free Technical requirements: Basic Examples: Twitter, Facebook groups, Youtube Value for organizations: Tap into 2.0 social ‘cultures’ building, reputation management Tip: If you don’t define your group in a social space others will define you. Be the primary source for facts and information.

“Derogatory remarks were posted on a blog. How do we find this?How do we respond?” : 

“Derogatory remarks were posted on a blog. How do we find this?How do we respond?”

4. Analytics tools: Intelligence : 

4. Analytics tools: Intelligence Purpose: Identifies web traffic sources, IP addresses, search terms, location, page views and more Cost: Often rolled into hosting Knowledge requirement: Moderate Examples: Google analytics, Awestats Value for organizations: Intelligence, up to the minute data, reporting tool Tip: Monitor breaking issues/activities and/or review monthly as a means of identifying visitor demographics and popular items. Train staff to understand and analyse basic data.

5. Google alerts: Monitoring, response : 

5. Google alerts: Monitoring, response Purpose: PR and monitor reputation “as it happens” in blogs, news sites and anywhere on the web. Cost: Free Technical requirements: Basic Examples: key terms, names, organisation, web address Value for organizations: Provides immediate tactical information. You can be first to comment on a news or blog item – rather than arriving after the damage is done. Tip: Set Google alerts for your organisation name, URL, individuals, “hot” or sensitive issues (so you can respond in real time)

Additional objectives : 

Additional objectives Blogs - staff and stakeholders “frame the message” Comments offer your visitors a voice Discussion forums for hot topics Reach into social networking spaces Less PDF, more web documents Video with embed code for sharing Non-essential controls for viewing

Adopting social media:The challenges : 

Adopting social media:The challenges 1. Fear and resistance to change

Commonly stated challenges : 

Commonly stated challenges Fear and resistance to change “Keeping up” with web trends Perceived costs of solutions Lack of best practices Misinformation and lack of expertise

3essential strategies : 

3essential strategies

Slide 37: 

The right approach The right stuff The right policies

1. The right approach : 

1. The right approach 1. Understand web cultures and 2.0 social codes by participating and engaging them directly 2. Create a Google group or internal forum for “digital PD” sessions with staff. 3. Tap into educational social networks: Classroom2.0, NING, Twitter and other spaces for insights and approaches to web issues

2. The right stuff : 

2. The right stuff 1. Be selective, you don’t need every tool/service 2. Sign up for popular social services/spaces like Twitter! 3. Create a collection of social bookmarks and update it regularly with important news/resources. Distribute to your stakeholders

3. The right policy : 

3. The right policy 1. Research and review emergent web policies elsewhere, everywhere 2. Collaborate directly with a variety of stakeholders 3. Examine school policies against critical trends in learning2.0

Summary of approaches … : 

Summary of approaches … Be present in 2.0 social spaces/cultures Accept that you do not “control” the message - but can influence outcomes Develop a digital social strategy Respond in real time to crisis/conflicts Turn one-way information models into many-to-many dialogue

Slide 42: 

What’s cool? What’s ahead?

2. Emergent social trends : 

2. Emergent social trends Microblogging http://twitter.com 2. Lifestreaming http://ustream.com 3. Vlogging, podcasting http://vlog.rheingold.com 4. Virtual Worlds http://secondlife.com 5. Cloud computing http://docs.google.com

Homework:Select and undertake one web2.0 social media exploration featured in the next three slides. : 

Homework:Select and undertake one web2.0 social media exploration featured in the next three slides.

1. Watch a video at Howard Rheingold’s Vlog : 

1. Watch a video at Howard Rheingold’s Vlog Beginner

2. Follow educators in Twitter : 

2. Follow educators in Twitter Intermediate

3. Attend an educational conference in Second Life : 

3. Attend an educational conference in Second Life Advanced

Slide 48: 

“What it is, is up to us” Web Community pioneer, Howard Rheingold

Slide 49: 

Presentation Resources http://www.diigo.com/list/melmcbride/beyondblocking Links to tools / services Topical articles Research reports Topics: reputation, identity, web2.0, social media Contact / PD sessions mcbride.melanie@gmail.com http://melaniemcbride.net

Beyond Blocking CinemaNow PlayingA Vision of Students Today : 

Beyond Blocking CinemaNow PlayingA Vision of Students Today

“Dubbed "the explainer" by Wired magazine, Michael Wesch is a cultural anthropologist exploring the impact of new media on society and culture.His videos on technology, education, and information have been viewed by millions, translated in over ten languages, and are frequently featured at international film festivals and major academic conferences worldwide.- Michael Wesch faculty page, Kansas State University : 

“Dubbed "the explainer" by Wired magazine, Michael Wesch is a cultural anthropologist exploring the impact of new media on society and culture.His videos on technology, education, and information have been viewed by millions, translated in over ten languages, and are frequently featured at international film festivals and major academic conferences worldwide.- Michael Wesch faculty page, Kansas State University Learning from Youtube: Introducing Michael Wesch

Why you haven’t seen these videos ...Wesch’s A Vision of Students Today, is among the most important statements on education in the digital age. Unfortunately, all of these videos are inaccessible within schools and school boards that block Youtube.Everyday, teachers across North America are forced to ‘smuggle’ legitimate content like this into their classrooms.. : 

Why you haven’t seen these videos ...Wesch’s A Vision of Students Today, is among the most important statements on education in the digital age. Unfortunately, all of these videos are inaccessible within schools and school boards that block Youtube.Everyday, teachers across North America are forced to ‘smuggle’ legitimate content like this into their classrooms..