Social Media & Entrepreneurship:Social Media & Entrepreneurship:Merging the ClassroomMerging the Classroom

with Our Students’ Worldswith Our Students’ Worlds

Rick CoplinRick CoplinVenture Development DirectorVenture Development Director

TechColumbusTechColumbuswww.techcolumbus.orgwww.techcolumbus.org

Before We StartBefore We Start

• Who are we?

What We’ll Discuss TodayWhat We’ll Discuss Today

• Education interestEducation interest• Our kids, a new worldOur kids, a new world• Social media definitionsSocial media definitions• What our kids are doingWhat our kids are doing• Our own experiencesOur own experiences• OpportunitiesOpportunities• School policiesSchool policies• A few examplesA few examples

Why Social Media & EntrepreneursWhy Social Media & Entrepreneurs• Dad to three great kids – 10Dad to three great kids – 10thth & 7 & 7thth grade sons and a 1 grade sons and a 1stst

grade daughtergrade daughter• Computers, cell phones, iTouch/iPad & gamingComputers, cell phones, iTouch/iPad & gaming• Keeping pace and setting the stageKeeping pace and setting the stage– Facebook experienceFacebook experience

• Business use and positive resultsBusiness use and positive results– Dublin Entrepreneurial CenterDublin Entrepreneurial Center– www.DECinDublin.comwww.DECinDublin.com

Technology is evolving; so should weTechnology is evolving; so should we

Why Educators Should be Why Educators Should be Interested In Social MediaInterested In Social Media

• Lifestyle integrationLifestyle integration– 66thth grade = 40%, 12 grade = 40%, 12thth grade = 90%* grade = 90%*

• Effective communication skills offline & onlineEffective communication skills offline & online• Reflect & utilize realityReflect & utilize reality• Natural classroom extensionNatural classroom extension• The blackboard vs. interactivityThe blackboard vs. interactivity

* Renee Ramig, Social Media in the Classroom, 11/1/2009: http://bit.ly/76br0x* Renee Ramig, Social Media in the Classroom, 11/1/2009: http://bit.ly/76br0x

What Is Their World Like?What Is Their World Like?

• Constantly connected, communicatingConstantly connected, communicating• Unlimited information accessUnlimited information access• Generational shift Generational shift B.G. -> G.N.B.G. -> G.N.• Discernment skills crucial at young agesDiscernment skills crucial at young ages• Friendships defined broadlyFriendships defined broadly• Conversations fueled by contentConversations fueled by content• Kansas State ethnography video & discussionKansas State ethnography video & discussion– Professor Michael Wesch, Professor Michael Wesch,

http://mediatedcultures.net/youtube.htmhttp://mediatedcultures.net/youtube.htm

Why Is Their World So Different?Why Is Their World So Different?• Technology is pervasiveTechnology is pervasive• We use, kids have integratedWe use, kids have integrated• Can you tell me the time please?Can you tell me the time please?• Change and innovationChange and innovation• Time and distance irrelevantTime and distance irrelevant• Radically different & evolving fastRadically different & evolving fast

– Did You Know video Did You Know video educational focus: educational focus: http://bit.ly/4nT8xE– Karl Fisch: Did You Know video: Karl Fisch: Did You Know video: http://bit.ly/PzFd, shorter version: , shorter version:

http://bit.ly/aTLm4

Social Media DefinedSocial Media Defined

Social media is how we Social media is how we share information onlineshare information online. . Sometimes we are the Sometimes we are the audienceaudience. And sometimes we . And sometimes we are the are the authorauthor. . Often we are bothOften we are both. Social media . Social media tools include blogs, message boards, podcasts, micro tools include blogs, message boards, podcasts, micro blogs, bookmarks, networks, and wikis. blogs, bookmarks, networks, and wikis.

Social media tools enable anyone to post, comment Social media tools enable anyone to post, comment on, share content and to on, share content and to form communities form communities around shared interests.around shared interests.

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What Our Kids Are DoingWhat Our Kids Are Doing• 93% of teens (12-17) use the internet93% of teens (12-17) use the internet– Share, tell stories, interactShare, tell stories, interact

• 75% own cell phones (55% of 12 y/o)75% own cell phones (55% of 12 y/o)– 66% utilize texting66% utilize texting

• 73% use social networking sites73% use social networking sites– 52% have two or more profiles52% have two or more profiles

• 62% get current events and politics news62% get current events and politics news• 57% watch videos online57% watch videos online• 48% have bought items online48% have bought items online• 15% Blog15% Blog

Source: Pew Internet – Social Media & Young Adults, February 2010

What’s Our Experience?What’s Our Experience?• Who uses (personally / teaching / program):Who uses (personally / teaching / program):– Facebook or MySpaceFacebook or MySpace– LinkedInLinkedIn– TwitterTwitter– Instant messagingInstant messaging– Blogs, WikisBlogs, Wikis– Videocasts / PodcastsVideocasts / Podcasts– Web tools (Wordle etc.)Web tools (Wordle etc.)

• Can you access these from school?Can you access these from school?• Who uses these for educational purposes?Who uses these for educational purposes?

My ExperienceMy Experience

• Work and personalWork and personal• FacebookFacebook– Ground rules Ground rules • passwords , expectations and guidancepasswords , expectations and guidance

– Friending, other parents & observationsFriending, other parents & observations

• PhotosPhotos• VideosVideos

Social Media Use Is an OpportunitySocial Media Use Is an Opportunity

• Opportunities to teach, lead & communicateOpportunities to teach, lead & communicate– PrivacyPrivacy– Copyright s, plagiarism &ownershipCopyright s, plagiarism &ownership– Digital = foreverDigital = forever– Boundaries Boundaries – – comments, photos etc.comments, photos etc.– Mistakes, gaffes will occurMistakes, gaffes will occur– Perceptions: digital world vs. real worldPerceptions: digital world vs. real world– Global reachGlobal reach

School PoliciesSchool Policies• Restrictive to undefinedRestrictive to undefined• Understand the reasons behind restrictionsUnderstand the reasons behind restrictions– Experience / lack of experienceExperience / lack of experience– Apprehension with the unfamiliarApprehension with the unfamiliar– Fear of an incident or complaintFear of an incident or complaint

• ALWAYSALWAYS work within school & union policieswork within school & union policies– Seek appropriate changes via reason and valueSeek appropriate changes via reason and value– Ask permissionAsk permission– ExperimentExperiment– EncourageEncourage

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com

Blogging and WikisBlogging and Wikis• Find others relevant to youFind others relevant to you• Start your ownStart your own• Start a program or company blogStart a program or company blog– Product developmentsProduct developments– Customer recommendationsCustomer recommendations– Videos & picturesVideos & pictures– CommentsComments– Links to sourcesLinks to sources

• Result: Interactive CommunityResult: Interactive Community

• Facebook snow days

Facebook & TwitterFacebook & Twitter• Establish a store or company pageEstablish a store or company page– AdvertisementsAdvertisements– Links to more informationLinks to more information– Specials, discountsSpecials, discounts– Project photos / videosProject photos / videos– Invite parents, teachers, administrators, Invite parents, teachers, administrators,

community members etc.community members etc.

• Friend teachers, parents & studentsFriend teachers, parents & students– Always informAlways inform

Getting StartedGetting Started• Understand your school & union policiesUnderstand your school & union policies• Know who has authority, influence and interestKnow who has authority, influence and interest• Investigate other teachers/programsInvestigate other teachers/programs• Start small, Start small, (low expectations help)(low expectations help)

• Involve teachers, administrators & parentsInvolve teachers, administrators & parents– Find & recruit partnersFind & recruit partners

• Engage studentsEngage students• Highlight successesHighlight successes• Consistently look for the next opportunity to Consistently look for the next opportunity to

apply these tools to enhance learningapply these tools to enhance learning

Thanks!Thanks!

Contact Rick Coplin:Contact Rick Coplin:

Email: rcoplin@techcolumbus.orgEmail: rcoplin@techcolumbus.orgTwitter: www.twitter.com/RickCoplinTwitter: www.twitter.com/RickCoplin

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickcoplinLinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickcoplin

Blog: MidWest TechBizBlog: MidWest TechBizhttp://rickcoplin.blogspot.comhttp://rickcoplin.blogspot.com