Administrators+and+Social+Media

=What role do administrators = =(building-level and district-level) = =play in the use of social media? = = = =**Is this how you feel after an in-service training on new technology?** = == **Have you ever wondered if there is a //better way// to ****introduce new ideas and technology to teachers? ** ==

Some school district administrators rely on the spaghetti method-
==== **throw it against the wall** (introduce it for an hour on an in-service day) ====


===**How much do you really learn? ** ===

**How much really "sticks"? **
===**How much will you ever utilize when technology is introduced in this manner? ** ===

===<span style="color: #a70606; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 170%;"> <span style="color: #ff0003; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #ff0003; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">In the dawning age of social media, there has to be a better way to move everyone-students, parents, teachers and administrators- into this new world of educational change. ** === ===<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #ff0003; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">Administrators who want to give students the advantage of utilizing social media to advance their learning need to develop a __long term delineated plan__ to introduce this new dimension in teaching/learning.They need to help teachers understand that this is a //CONTINUUM OF NEW TECHNOLOGY// and each step forward can offer benefits to both teacher and student. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">Superintendents and principals have to lead the way and explain that the first step into social media is just the beginning, and OVER TIME, with __THOROUGH and enhanced training__,these new uses of technology will become as normal as using a copy machine. Administration needs to communicate to teachers that new social media can be added in ** <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">__<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**successive layers** __ <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">and it will __<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;">not be mastered in one in service, one semester, or one year. __****<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140.4%;"> Teachers need to believe that this new technology is like adding an addition to an older home-expanding on the old so that we can move into a more modern era. Just as technology moved from typewriters to computers, we will just be utilizing different tools to teach-and that learning and utilizing these new forms of media will be a work in progress.So that as we gain experience with social media, we just build on our prior knowledge, and add more to our teacher's toolbox. ** ===

__<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%;">To underscore that point, here is a video that illustrates building a work in progress. __
<span style="color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">media type="youtube" key="M3hge6Bx-4w" height="385" width="480" =<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">So how does an administrator overcome the = =<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">fear and trepidation of = =<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%; text-align: center;">ONE MORE THING FOR US TO DO NOW!.. = =<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> =
 * 1) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">Administrators need to establish a __**REASONABLE timeline**__ for incorporating social media into classes.
 * 2) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">They need to establish learning teams/groups that **pair technophobes with tech savvy teachers** (ones with a great amount of patience).
 * 3) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">Administrators need to make sure that these new methods of teaching are to be **explored and incorporated naturally**-not forced due to fear of penalty-if you need to move into it slowly, then do so.
 * 4) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">They need to establish **mentor technology teachers** for **each discipline**-people __who are adding social media to their classes with success__- who can lead other teachers to sites and who enthusiastically embrace these new methods (and can communicate their enthusiasm).
 * 5) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">Administrators need to **PRAISE(and PRAISE AGAIN)** and recognize not only teachers who are whiz kids at this, but also __those who are moving (albeit slowly) toward the goals__ of using social media.
 * 6) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 144%;">**ADMINISTRATORS HAVE TO PROVIDE TIME**-time to __learn,__ time to __explore__ what can be done with new media, time to __share experiences__ with learning teams and departments, and time to __incorporate these new methods into your lessons__. (AND THIS CANNOT BE JUST THE 1/2 HOUR BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AND DURING THE <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">45 MINUTE PLANNING TIME).
 * 7) <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">Finally, Administrators need to approach this in an enthusiastic and __PLAYFUL__ manner.

__//<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">And so in that vein view the following video //__
media type="youtube" key="FMdTZ8YufvM" height="385" width="480"

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #150080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">
=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #150080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;"> = =<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #150080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Administrators also need to be advocates and users of social media if they want their staff to be using them as well. And if they can’t, then it’s up to principals and other administrators to convince them that social media are important in education. =

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #150080; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">__Here’s an example of a superintendent that’s already on the right track:__
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">@http://www.principalspage.com/theblog/archives/social-media-vs-school-administrators



<span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%; text-align: center;">So here is the final note-if Masai tribesman can adapt and embrace new technology, why can't teachers? I guess it all begins with how it is presented!