When Eric and I wrote Your School Rocks...So Tell People, it wasn't just about trying to hustle some books. We have witnessed a tremendous positive impact on our schools by using different social media platforms and we wanted to share those strategies with anyone who was interested. Now that the book is out and in the hands of educators, we want to continue to provide ongoing tips that will make your use of social media that much more effective. The one point I want to really hammer home is this: do not be a firehose.
Often times, when we talk about communicating as a school, it happens to be one-way communication. I don't think we do it on purpose and we do it with the best of intentions. We want our community to be informed. Just as much as our communities appreciate being informed, they also want something else. They want to be heard.
As you are using the various forms of social media to share all of the great things that are happening in your classrooms and schools, don't forget to listen. Two-way communication does not have to happen in the comment section of Facebook. If it is appropriate, then go for it. If it is not, pick up the phone and have a discussion. But don't just use social media to disseminate information. Use it to build relationships and have meaningful conversations. That is what is going to benefit your school
