Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/827301
| WEAnews 28 | WEA WEA WEA WEA WEA WEAnews 28 FEBRUARY 28 Announcements I've been sharing on social media professionally for eight years now, and I have to admit, it can be kinda tricky. There is a goldmine of information out there for teachers, but also landmines that can be quite treacherous if not deftly avoided. As educators, I passionately believe we should use social media to push the positive, celebrate student successes, share resources with our colleagues, and connect with parents and the community. But how do we professionally use these tools without torturing ourselves over every Tweet, update, or Instagram pic? Easy! Try these six tips to share sensibly online. Follow School District Policy Does your district have a technology and social media upolicy? If so, read it and follow it to the letter. I'm so proud that my district has had a "Responsible Use of Technology and Social Media Policy" since 2002 and has updated it every three years. Here's one of the many parts that I agree with: "Any postings by employees will not reference, link or contain: Statements that could be viewed as malicious, obscene, threatening or intimidating; that disparage students, employees, parents or community members; or that could be viewed as harassment or bullying." Well, duh! Before you Tweet, post, or share—make sure you're following the rules. I'm daring, but I'm not stupid, and I kinda love my job. Should You Follow Students? No matter your school policy, the easiest answer is no. Do not follow or "friend" students. Sure, we all want to be cool, connect with our kiddos, and be there for them in a crisis, but there are too many potential hazards in following their lives on social media. My pat answer to students who ask me to follow their private Twitter or Instagram accounts goes something like this: "Sorry, no can do. Until you graduate I'm a teacher, not a friend. After you graduate, then maybe I can become a friend and a mentor." But the answer to students who ask me to follow their public accounts is a definite maybe, depending on whether the account is open and transparent, they're over 13 and out of my school, and that they asked me directly to follow them. The clear caveat that could turn a maybe into a yes is this: I would make sure to clearly and firmly tell them that "anything I see that you post that is the least bit inappropriate, bullying, uncivil, illegal, against our school policy or state law, I am ethically and professionally impelled to act upon, inform the authorities, and call your Mama! Yes, I would totally tell on you in a heartbeat for your own good and because I care." I recently talked to my supervisor, Julie Alonso-Hughes, district coordinator of instructional technology and library media, about additional social media guidelines. She said, "It's really all about common sense. If you saw suspicious behavior in the hallway, same rules apply, you would have to report it." She also added a few handy hashtags to keep in mind: #youwouldntsaythattomyface, #thinkb4upost, #commonsense Don't Share the Private. Do Share the Personal (Maybe) On social media, it's good to overshare the professional; under share the personal; and NEVER share the private. Because that's just creepy! There's a big difference between sharing what is personal versus sharing what is private. We Six Ways to Avoid Those Social Media SUMMER 2017