These slides were created and shared at the Digital Families 2015 event by Director John Bidder from Blippit. If you attended the workshop you'll know John only shared learning from Blippit Social and didn't linger on the service. Visit www.blippit.co.uk for more.

1. Fishing where the fish are:
Engaging with parents
on Facebook
John Bidder, Director, Blippit
john.bidder@blippit.co.uk

2. This is me
Husband to Teacher & Dad to one
caterpillar & two chrysalis’
Primary Teacher, Advisory ICT
Teacher, ICT Adviser
Primary Strategy
Learning Platforms & BSF
School Communications
Founder of Blippit
100’s schools Snr Leaders incl.
LSCB’s, school networks- all
settings & countries
Opinion & editorial BBC, Guardian
University of Manchester Primary
PGCE Computing Course Lead

3. Who’s here today?
head teachers
social services
health pros
police
marketing
governors
parents
well intentioned people

4. I want no badge
for having kids

5. Attitudes have changed
“Teacher sacked for
posting picture of
herself holding glass
of wine and mug of
beer on Facebook”
Guess the year?

6. Have attitudes changed?
“I know a teacher (secondary) who is on
Facebook and puts lots of provocative
pictures of herself on it, ie sexy
Halloween costumes and very sexy
posing...Some students and students
parents are able to see her pics and
aren't impressed...what do you think
about people in roles like teaching who
are an influence to many children living
their life through fb in ways such as
mentioned?”
NetMums

7. Attitudes have changed
“She probably should have tighter privacy settings so no one but her friends
are able to see her content and posts but why should she? It's her page and
she probably doesn't expect people such as students and parents to be
spying on her and discussing whats on her page.
She's allowed a life and to have fun, post pictures and do what
she wants outside of her job.
They should be allowed to live their life, as long as she isn't dressing
provocatively in school hours or discussing inappropriate things such as how
she got drunk on the weekend then I'd let her get on with it”
Guess the year?
A representative response

8. In the last 5 years
much has been learned

9. Some incidental things we’ve learned
Parents don’t use school
websites except when booking
holidays/checking if shut
Ofsted is your website audience
Class pages on school websites
are a ball and chain for all
concerned with little if any
impact
Many more parents are on Facebook
than Twitter
Twitter is like speakers’ corner.
Facebook is like the Green Room
where insights are shared about what
makes the band tick.
Drip fed ‘how to’s’ are 100% more
effective than parent e-safety meetings

10. Who & where
are we?
Magic
Magical things
Rationale
Why do schools do
it?
How?
Let’s see some
schools
Impact
Does it make a
difference?
Welcome

11. *’out of our understanding or full control’
What, to us, is ‘magic’?
1. electricity
2. how a plane stays in the air
3. parenthood
4. friendship
5. steve jobs
6. love
7. holidays
8. birth
9. welsh sports teams
10.space

12. * ‘out of our understanding or full control’
What, to parents is ‘magic’?
1. children’s natural affinity for technology
2. first words
3. sign of independence
4. when they actually seem to be learning something
5. when they know something we didn’t teach them
6. how adaptable they are to different environments
7. learning to read
8. having the courage to speak out knowing own mind
9. when they fall and they don’t get hurt
10.when they leave home
11.laughing

13. More incidental things we’ve learned
The parental community will not let you
down
The biggest monsters seem to be in our
heads
Heads’ contact with parents is often at the
pinch points. This negatively affects how
accurately they gauge community
contentedness.

14. Today’s ‘talkshop’
Who & where
are we?
Magic
Magical things
Rationale
Why do schools do
it?
How?
Let’s see some
schools
Impact
Does it make a
difference?
Welcome

15. We’ve learned a lot about customer journeys

16. Your turn...could soft communications help?
Some Ideas - have a go - break it down!
1. Parent applying for a school place
2. Parent of child going on a school trip
3. Parent switching child from sandwiches to
school dinners
4. Parent with child in transition across key stages
5. Parent receiving new progress report formats

17. Who & where
are we?
Magic
Magical things
Rationale
Why do schools do
it?
How?
Let’s see some
schools
Impact
Does it make a
difference?
Welcome

18. Let’s take
a look!

19. Sept-October 2015 - Weekly trend

20. Sept-October 2015 - Time for engagement

21. Sept-October 2015 - Interaction Types

22. Sept-October 2015 - Age Groups

23. Sept-October 2015 - Gender Split

24. Thank you &
questions time permitting.
Fishing where the fish are:
Engaging with parents
on Facebook
John Bidder, Director, Blippit.
www.blippit.co.uk