S

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/social-media-

488886_1280.jpg)

Social media is a free, powerful, safe way to spread positivenews about education. Here are seven types of posts you can

start using immediately.

7 kinds of social media postseducators and schools can usenow

ocial media has become a way of life. It’swhere much of society meets and discusseslife.

Students are there. Their families are there. Why shouldn’tschools and educators be there, too?

Some people are wary about it, but the truth is this: social mediais a free, powerful, safe way to spread positive news abouteducation. With a little bit of observing people that do it well,anyone can learn how to leverage social media for students’benefit.

Want some examples of people who do it well? Look no furtherthan Jason Markey, Joe Sanfelippo and Tony Sinanis. They’retwo principals and a superintendent that have spread the goodnews from their districts far and wide.

Jason Markey, principal, Leyden High School District242, Chicago, Ill. (#LeydenPride (https://twitter.com/search?

src=typd&q=%23leydenpride) / @JasonMMarkey(http://twitter.com/jasonmmarkey) )

Joe Sanfelippo, superintendent, Fall Creek SchoolDistrict, Fall Creek, Wis. (#GoCrickets(https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23gocrickets) /@Joesanfelippofc (http://twitter.com/joesanfelippofc) )

Tony Sinanis, principal, Cantiague Elementary School,Jericho, NY (#Cantiague (https://twitter.com/search?

q=%23cantiague&src=typd) / @TonySinanis(http://twitter.com/tonysinanis) )

Note: Joe and Tony have written a book on this very topic called“The Power of Branding: Telling Your School’s Story” (click thislink to buy it on Amazon).(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1483371913/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?

ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1483371913&linkCode=as2&tag=ditthatex-

20&linkId=4THLMOT3OPVJ6MIZ)

Where do they promote the awesome work of their kids andstaffs the most? On Twitter, where you’ll find plenty of students,a good deal of parents and a huge network of other educatorswith whom to share ideas.

Sharing great posts on social media can be daunting, much likestaring at a blinking cursor on a blank document waiting oninspiration. Never fear, because you can implement any of theposts mentioned below immediately to jump-start your socialmedia account and build your presence (or that of your school ordistrict). Each is presented with an example from one of the

three school/district hashtags mentioned above.

This list is adapted from an episode of Michael Hyatt’s podcast,“This Is Your Life,” entitled “Grow Your Social Media Followingwith These 10 Different Kinds of Posts”(http://michaelhyatt.com/season-2-episode-3-grow-your-social-media-

following.html) . I’m presenting it, along with otherrecommendations for leveraging social media in education, at aworkshop. (Check out the bottom of this post to see the slidesI’m using!)

As you read, think of the other kinds of posts that could beon this list and add them in a comment below!

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/share-

a-resource.jpg)

Click for full-sized image.

1. Share a resource. The Internet teems with articles, how-to’s, data and other resources. Be the digital go-between for yourfollowers and pass those golden nuggets along.

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/repost-

somebody-elses-post.jpg)

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2. Repost somebody else’s post. Other area schools, newsmedia, parents, students and others have good news andinteresting content to share as well. When you find it, share it.

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/make-

an-announcement.jpg)

Click for full-sized image.

3. Make an announcement. If an event is going to happen ornews breaks, post it immediately on social media. Twitter thriveson its lightning-quick reactions to world happenings. Leveragethat for your students, families and/or followers.

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/reveal-

something-personal.jpg)

Click for full-sized image.

4. Reveal something personal. Let’s not get into the “TMI”(too much information) category here, but getting personal to a

healthy degree is really important. We want to know people wefollow on social media on a more personal level. That’s human.Even if it feels counter-intuitive at first, tell people aboutyourself.

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/report-

on-what-youre-doing-now.jpg)

Click for full-sized image.

5. Report on what you’re doing now. This type of postworks as long as it’s in line with your audience. If it’s a school,posting about field trips is perfect. If you’re an educator, postingyour top lessons from a conference you’ve attended isappropriate. Or connect this with No. 4 above and give a quickpost about your vacation. (Just don’t overdo it!)

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question.jpg)

6. Ask a question. This type of post puts the social in socialmedia. Need help planning a lesson? Want some feedback on aproject you’re working on? Post a question to your followers. Younever know what you’ll get in return.

(http://ditchthattextbook.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/offer-

congratulations.jpg)

Click for full-sized image.

7. Offer congratulations. Praise is unbelievably motivating,especially when it’s merited and specific. Spread it around.

The best way to get started is just to start! You’ll never improveyour social media skills with inaction. Jump in and try!

BONUS #1 – Here are the slides I’m using for my presentationon social media today. Check them out!

Slide 1 SlidesSlide 30 Slides

BONUS #2 – Interested in getting better at branding your

school or district (or yourself)? Here are some good resourcesout on the web. (http://www.one-

tab.com/page/LD1pZzKdT6S843aFEP59iw)

Question: What other types of posts can educators,schools and districts use to promote the good ineducation? You can leave a comment by clicking here(http://ditchthattextbook.com/2015/04/09/7-kinds-of-social-

media-posts-educators-and-schools-can-use-now/#respond) .

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Matt is scheduled to present at the following upcomingevents:

Date Event / Event DetailsCity /More Info

+(#)

01/19/2015 Western Wayne (Ind.) Schools Pershing, IN

Full-daySeminar:

Ditch That Textbook: Whyand How?

Private Event

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01/31/20159:00-12:00 p.m.

U. Indy's Power of EducationConference

Indianapolis,IN

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02/03/201508:00-03:00 p.m.

World Languages Workshop @ LafayetteJeff HS

Lafayette, IN

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02/26/20159:00-4:05 p.m.

Indiana Conference on Learning(http://asainstitute.org/conference2015/)

Indianapolis,IN

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Fall Creek Intermediate SchoolWorkshop

Fishers, IN

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03/19/20157:30-3:00 p.m.

Hamilton Southeastern (Ind.) Schools Fishers, IN

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04/09/201504:00-06:00 p.m.

PVETI Social Media Workshop Rockville, IN

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04/11/2015—04/12/201508:30-05:30 p.m.

Indiana Google Apps for EducationSummit (http://indiana.gafesummit.com/2015)

Franklin, IN

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05/01/201509:00-03:00 p.m.

Ditch That Textbook workshop @ CIESC Indianapolis,IN

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HSE Summer Learning Fair Fishers, IN

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06/10/201508:00-04:00 p.m.

Connecting the 4 C's Conference @ Mt.Vernon (Ind.) (https://www.smore.com/qgv4w-

connecting-the-4c-s)

MountVernon, IN

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06/11/2015—06/12/20158:00-3:00 p.m.

Yorktown WeLearn Conference(http://ycswelearn.weebly.com/)

Yorktown, IN

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06/15/2015—06/16/201508:00-03:00 p.m.

Summer Spark Symposium(http://www.usmk12.org/page/SummerSpark)

Milwaukee,WI

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eLEAD Madison County(https://sites.google.com/site/eleadmadisonco/home)

Anderson, IN

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Seymour Schools Tech Workshop Seymour, IN

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South Vermillion trAnSfoRM Conference(http://svtransform14.weebly.com/)

Clinton, IN

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#ReadTL15 Conference(https://sites.google.com/a/i.reading-

college.ac.uk/external-pio-site/future-events/-

readtl15)

Reading,WestBerkshire, UK

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06/28/2015—07/01/2015 ISTE Conference 2015(https://isteconference.org/2015/)

Philadelphia,PA

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USD 242 Weskan Schools StaffDevelopment

Weskan, KS

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We R Richmond eLearning Expo(http://werrichmondexpo.weebly.com/)

Richmond, IN

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IntegratED Conference @ East Noble HS Kendallville,IN

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A blueprint forTwitter and cellphones in class fromJoe Marquez(http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/12/22/a-

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(http://ditchthattextbook.com/2014/05/22/kick-

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