Dive Brief:
- Few teachers use social media in the classroom, yet a growing number of schools use mobile devices for learning, creating an opportunity for enterprising teachers to engage with both parents and students.
- Steven Anderson, a former teacher and instructional technology director, writes for Ed Tech Magazine that classroom Twitter accounts can be managed by either teachers or students, letting parents follow along with assignments and class activities.
- Instagram gives parents a window into the classroom and offers a place for students to post photos or videos that tie into their lessons, while Periscope offers a live-stream opportunity for school and classroom activities alike.
Dive Insight:
Most teachers use at least Facebook daily for their own personal networks. They know social media platforms, but there are a variety of reasons why they don’t use them for work. Privacy is surely a concern, and many teachers are held back by a lack of a social media policy at their schools. They wait for administrators to take the first step. Official policies can provide a level of protection for teachers to branch out onto these platforms, and they can also highlight best practices, giving teachers clear dos and don’ts.
When it comes to using social media as a tool for parent engagement, schools should embark on new initiatives with an understanding of the parent community. Certain groups of parents may prefer one network over another. Teachers could use open houses as opportunities to give a quick lesson to help parents connect to unfamiliar classroom accounts. The benefits of parent engagement are clear, so if social media is one way to reach them, schools should try.
