1. Social Media: School Leadership in the Digital Age J. Howard Johnston University of South Florida Ronald Williamson Eastern Michigan University Download this presentation from: http://leaderssocialmediaguide.blogspot.com

2. Available from Eye on Education AMLE Bookstore Online (www.eyeoneducation.com)www.eyeoneducation.com Door Prize: Name and contact information on 3X5 card Drawing at end of the session

3. Social Media: School Leadership in the Digital Age Part 1:Social Media and Schools Part 2:School Safety & Crisis Management Part 3:Communication Part 4:Productivity Part 5: Professional Growth

4. Key Lessons About Social Media News travels fast and can “go viral” in hours Information is distributed through conversations rather than broadcasts We trust information from a trusted source (friend) or neutral source (consumer agency)

5. Key Lessons About Social Media Schools are not usually trusted sources Production of information no longer edited, consumption of information must be done with care Communication must be brief and to the point

6. Why Pay Attention Do you communicate with students, families and staff? Do you monitor community views about your school? Do your kids use social media? Do you need to stay on top of cutting-edge educational topics? Do you need to promote good news about your school in the community?

7. Getting Started Five Step Plan 1.List ways you communicate with your “publics;” how you might employ social media? 2.Draft a vision statement for social media in your school. 3.Ask your kids to show you some apps they use. 4.Ask parents how they use social media. 5.Subscribe to an online newsletter about tech in schools: e.g., www.eschoolnews.comwww.eschoolnews.com

8. Social Media and School Safety Legal Guidance  Tinker Test – can restrict speech that is likely to cause a “substantial disruption”  Fraser Test – can restrict speech that is “sexually explicit, indecent or lewd”  Morse Test – can restrict speech encouraging “illegal drug use”  Hazelwood Test – can restrict “school sponsored speech that is inconsistent with the school’s basic educational mission”

9. Social Media and School Safety Five Step Plan 1.Learn about social media and how it works 2.Recognize that most teens use it responsibly 3.Don’t attempt to ban it 4.Help students, families and staff know about how to manage social media 5.Focus on responsible student use

10. Social Media and Crisis Management Key Ideas Provides a faster response Keep messages brief and pertinent Be sure to listen and respond Have a plan to monitor messages (sent and received) Create a “Fact Check” site

11. Social Media and Crisis Management Five Step Plan 1.Don’t wait for a crisis. “Get your feet wet.” 2.Only the facts; avoid emotional response 3.Provide timely and useful information (no trivia) 4.Be willing to live with critique and rumors 5.Post information and updates regularly

12. Social Media and School Communication Key Ideas It builds relationships They’re already talking Listen as well as share You’ll be well received It’s here to stay; not going away

13. Social Media and School Communication Five Step Plan 1.Look at and update school’s website 2.Examine Facebook and Twitter sites of other schools 3.Visit the blog of other school leaders – http://esheninger.blogspot.com http://esheninger.blogspot.com 4.Check out YouTube (www.youtube.com) as a way to promote your schoolwww.youtube.com 5.Think about Flickr (www.flickr.com) as a tool to communicate about your schoolwww.flickr.com

14. Social Media and Productivity Key Ideas Managing time and tasks is a challenge Importance of staying up-to-date Gen Y employees expect to be connected, updated, and involved Expectations around access to information

15. Social Media and Productivity Five Step Plan 1.Use it to schedule meetings (www.doodle.com)www.doodle.com 2.Manage access to information using RSS (www.google.com/reader/view/)www.google.com/reader/view/ 3.Collaborate on planning and projects using wikis (www.wikispaces.com)www.wikispaces.com 4.Build connections (www.linkedin.com)www.linkedin.com 5.Create a personal learning network (PLN) (http://sites.google.com/site/buildingapln/)http://sites.google.com/site/buildingapln/

16. Social Media and Professional Growth Key Ideas 1.Individualized professional development is now possible. 2.Professional networks span distance and time. 3.Peer-to-Peer and embedded in the work is best. 4.Students can be teachers and coaches for school staff. 5.Parents expect social media competence on the part of school staff. 6.Social media is economical.

17. Social Media and Professional Growth Five Step Plan 1.Survey staff for social media skills. 2.Create a coaching/training cadre of students & staff. 3.Model use of social media for your own professional development. http://kommein.com/25-free-online- social-media-classes/http://kommein.com/25-free-online- social-media-classes/ 4.Subscribe to a school leaders’ blog: http://connectedprincipals.com/ http://connectedprincipals.com/ 5.Have staff showcase social media use in meetings: http://blog.edmodo.com/2012/01/06/edmodo-mini- lesson-showcase/ http://blog.edmodo.com/2012/01/06/edmodo-mini- lesson-showcase/

18. For Additional Information J. Howard Johnston e-mail: hojofl@gmail.comhojofl@gmail.com Website: http://www.coedu.usf.edu/ma in/departments/seced/Faculty /Johnston.html http://www.coedu.usf.edu/ma in/departments/seced/Faculty /Johnston.html Ron Williamson e-mail: rwmson214@aol.comrwmson214@aol.com Website: http://ronwilliamson.com http://ronwilliamson.com School Leaders’ Social Media Blog http://leaderssocialmediaguide.blogspot.com