This document provides an overview of social media and how it can be used by Broward County Public Schools. It defines popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, demonstrates how to use the district's Twitter account, outlines best practices and guidelines for use, and provides resources for getting started with social media. The goal is to teach elementary and middle schools how to communicate and promote their schools using these tools.

1. Social
Media:
101
Learn the basics and get the tools you need
(Elementary and Middle Schools)

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Today’s presentation
1. What is social media?
2. The District’s channels.
3. Twitter basics.
4. Avoid pitfalls.
5. Tools you can use.

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What is social media?

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Social media
Facebook:
• Online social networking service
• Founded February 4, 20041
• More than a billion registered users2
Twitter:
• Platform for sending “tweets” – short forms of
communication no longer than 140 characters
• Founded March 21, 20063
• Almost 300 million active accounts2
Sources:
1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook
2 - http://www.statista.com/statistics/272014/global-
social-networks-ranked-by-number-of-users/
3 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter

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What can I do with social media?
Communicate
PromoteInteract
Share

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How can I use social media?
• Use as a communication tool
• Use to share information with organizations
such as your PTA
• Promote your school newsletter
• Showcase your events
• Recognize teachers and accomplishments
• Connect with other schools and see topics
that are trending

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The District’s channels.

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The District’s social media accounts:
twitter.com/browardschools
facebook.com/browardschools
Mobile App

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The District’s mobile app:

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The District’s Twitter account:

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The District’s Facebook account:

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Twitter basics.

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Terminology
• Handle = @browardschools
• Above your handle – this describes your
Twitter feed, it will not direct people to your
account
• Hashtag = #
• Hashtag examples: #BCPSProud,
BCPSShines

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Terminology
• Followers = Twitter accounts that follow your
account
• Favorite/Favorited = People like this and link it to
their account page
• Following = The Twitter accounts that you follow
• Notifications = Updates

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Terminology
• Retweet = RT = You can send information from
another account to your followers
• Retweet with Quote = You can retweet a
message and add your own comment
• Direct Message = @browardschools
(you will see .@ in posts, this eliminates a direct msg)

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Handle Tweets, Following,
Followers, Favs

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Tweet – Text, photos, location
Number of characters, less with photos

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What if parents don’t want to register for an
account?
• Parents do not have to have a Twitter account
to see the updates
• The information is available to anyone online
• View via a browser
• Interact through the Twitter app
• Twitter is embedded in the District’s mobile app

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How can I get the most out of my posts?
• Use photos
• Include other
Twitter accounts
• Utilize ParentLink
• Drive traffic back
to your school’s
website

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Avoid pitfalls.

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What if I made a mistake?
Delete and repost

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What if I made a mistake?

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Passwords
Never use a simple password. Include:
• Letters
• Numbers
• Symbols

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Public Record
• Posts on social media are public record and follow
public record regulations.
• Public Records Guidebook:
http://browardschools.com/SiteMedia/Docs/web/PIO/PRR_Guidebook_draft13.pdf
• Public Records Brochure:
http://browardschools.com/SiteMedia/Docs/web/PIO/Public_Records_Brochure_v2.pdf

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Social Media Guidelines
• Social Media Guidelines:
http://www.browardprevention.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/10/BCPS_SocialMediaUseGuidelines_Final.pdf

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Tools you can use.

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We have tools to help you.

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Social Media Toolkit
• Images
• Pre-sized
• Professional
• Seasonal
• Examples of tweets
• Examples of headers on Twitter
• List of elementary schools
• List of middle schools

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Getting started checklist
• Pre-determine possible handles
• Register an account
• Upload images
• Send your first tweet
• Follow @browardschools
• Follow list of elementary schools
and/or middle schools
• Incorporate tweets into your
work-week
• Use as a positive tool to promote
and communicate

30. BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Contact Information
Office
754-321-2305
KCW Internal
Ext. 2229
Mobile
954-706-4942
Email
maria.gebhardt@
browardschools.com