What does the internet look like today? The reality is that if you want to have any type of real impact, you have to have an online presence. Even people who are not online are affected by what goes on there. ‘Echo effect’ People share pictures with family and friends on Facebook. News beauruas get tips and updates on twitter. Eg. Sarah Palin has built her following almost entirely on social media to get out ‘her’ message.
People long for and seek out connections and community. This is why popular sites like Facebook are thrivign. People want to connect with friends, create community around common interest. this is not new. what is new is the reach and access that the internet now gives us to people we would not regularly be able to. Here is an example:
In order to have any wide spread impact we need to both understand the big part that sm plays in peoples lives, and participate in it so that our voice is heard too. Social media is all about connection and influence. When you are connected with people, you can influence and be influenced by them. People are more interested in hearing what people they relate to think, than they are what ‘brands’ think.
So how do you get this influence, you speak. You have just as much of a opportunity to get this influence as anyone. Its not about money. In order to fully leverage the power of social media you have to put something in. The influence is up for grabs. All you have to do is jump in.
Examples, Look at joteach, mashable, lance ulnaff, nbpts, examples from the room, zappos, lindsey lohan
i’m working under the assumption that everyone does or is familiar with this. Use for business.
What is a blog? pull up some examples from the room.
So how does all this affect you? As a teacher leader you have no choice but to establish an online presence. Be it social or professional, you need to 1) let your voice be heard 2)Listen to the other voices and experts out there who know things that impact your life. Exercise: Google some members of the group
Get additional suggestions from the group
Remember to safeguard the privacy of those you interact with. Remeber when you make some thing more private Get additional suggestions from the group
Find out what works for you and your audience Invite people to action. A list of followers or fans is useless. You have impact when you can move people into doing something and making a change. e.g the Meetup model
Find out what works for you and your audience Invite people to action. A list of followers or fans is useless. You have impact when you can move people into doing something and making a change. e.g the Meetup model
We learn by doing Your level of engagement does not have to be like anyone else’s but you MUST engage At the very minimun you must design your own online reputation before someone else does it for you
A lot of what we have talked about may seem out there or over your head but you have to dream it. We can accomplish things beyond our wildest dreams, only if we chase those dreams. Think of your strategy, both with social media and your action plans, not as a to do list, but as a map to a new reality, a new dream, where your impact changes the face of teaching in your school/state etc. Dream it, do it!