The world of social media is quickly spreading to various areas of our lives, including our education. Educators have been expanding their presence on social media platforms to assist in communication. Here are a few pointers to assist you in utilizing social media efficiently and effectively.
Research, Research, Research
Social media networks can be some of the most useful research tools, as long as you are using the right ones. You can discover information and comments related to your school, profession, or just you in general. Rate My Professor is a free website for colleges and universities that allows students and professors to comment on professors at their school and provide information about their teaching tactics, personality, the course(s) they teach, etc. The site also rates the school based on areas such as the condition of the library, the campus’s location, quality of the food, and social activities.
Educators Have Homework Too
Many individuals believe that only students receive the homework assignments, but realistically, educators also have homework to complete. Before educators, or anyone for that matter, begin to use social media it is important to make sure their activity on the web is legal and appropriate. Research your school to find out if there are any policies or rules that pertain to your use of social media. For example, the School Board of Palm Beach County, Florida established a list of acceptable uses of technology by employees. Within these policies they clearly state the consequences that will come with disregarding any of these policies. You can easily find policies for any school by simply constructing a Google search with the name of your school followed by “policies on employee use of social media.”
To Facebook and Beyond
When you begin your journey through the endless world of social media, try to start small and then grow. You may want to sign up for all different networks at once, but if it is your first time, consider starting with one social networking platform, such as Facebook and then expand from there onto others including Twitter, WordPress, or TeacherTube.
The most common issue individuals encounter is the thought that they need to simply establish a name on these platforms. However, the truth is you need to constantly be interacting on each page in order for it to be beneficial. When you post more frequently on your page you have the ability to be more official and are more likely to be “known” in social media. Don’t get too post-happy though, because who wants to be that teacher that never stops talking?
