Bill Gates calls it “Living the documented life.” Wikipedia and other sources are altering information gathering and communication as we speak. Remember the days when you carved your initials in the tree trunk with your rusty pocketknife? Today our children and grandchildren operate openly in a digital environment.

I have a principal who says this technology is simply evil. What he fails to realize is that there is no rolling it back. We must harness the use of technology for good and get the message out about public education. Its time to act – Not to just react!

Websites are static, non-interactive and often out dated Blogs are real-time, up-to-date information that can be changed several times a day if necessary

Don’t get yourself in a twitter!

Students of Today YouTube – K-12 Students today

How has communication changed in our lifetime? Land lines to Cell Phones Newspapers to TV TV to 24/7 cable Websites to Blogging Blogging to Micro Blogging How does this impact communication?

4 ways social media is changing business

From “large campaigns” to “small acts” It used to take weeks for bad news to travel Most important job of the CEO is to hear what people are saying

From “selling” something to “making connections”

From “controlling our image” to “being ourselves”

From “hard to reach” to “available anywhere

Impact: Short news cycles How might this change your overall communication strategy?

New Tools: The basics Social Media Facebook/MySpace etc. Blogging – How is it different than a web site? Micro Blogging Twitter Plurk Web sites Cell Phones

A little about blogging: Why do it? E.M. Forster “How do I know what I think until I see what I say?” Family and Mommy blogs

How did you leave your mark on the world? Pocketknife on the tree? “Leroy was here!” Today our children leave their mark digitally Facebook Myspace Twitter Plurk

Why should you blog? If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em Communicating old school vs new school People expect “just-in-time” information now

Why should I blog? If you don’t blog to them – they will blog about you

Advantages to blogging Easy to create Search engine friendly Free You control the message You can respond to traditional media Asynchronous Increases coverage in traditional media

How is a blog different from a website? Web sites are static Blogs are updated regularly Blogs are personal

Ways to use a blog Spread the news Communicate during an emergency Monitor ongoing events Be an activist Marketing and PR Getting to know you (Mother’s Day story) Educating the community

It’s time to act – not just react! You can’t stop progress Blogging interaction is here to stay We can either embrace it for good and get our messages out OR We can sit back and be buried by those who use the technology against public education

How did I get started? Mark’s story The Wawascene 30 days – 475,000 page loads by 181,407 visitors 71,000 in one day District with 3,500 students Book Chapter (Heart and Soul of Educational Leadership) Sept 08, Corwin Press Book (It’s a Blog Eat Blog World: Thriving as a School Administrator in a High Tech Age) Dec 08, Rowman & Littlefield Press

What should I blog about? Chronicle a decision Share an unresolved problem Teach about a service or program Reveal aspects of your non-work life Teach about the complexities of an issue Illustrate values Provide recognition Inform the media Squelch a rumor Breaking school news Provided by Griff Wigley, Leadership Blogging Consultant http://wigleyandassociates.com

Chronicle a decision

Reveal aspects of your non-work life

Breaking School News Bus Accident – Blog live from the scene or the hospital Up-to-date, accurate information Bomb threats Lockdowns Disasters

What should I blog about? Share news and events Progress monitoring Status alerts Marketing Public Relations Community building Customer relations Create customer evangelists Thought leadership Advocacy Replace sections of your school web site Provided by Dr. Scott McLeod, www.dangerouslyirrelevant.org Director of CASTLE, 612-626-0768, mcleod@umn.edu

Progress monitoring

Teach about the complexities of an issue

Parent E-mail to the Superintendent I really enjoy reading your posts about all topics. They are very informative. Thanks for taking the time to do this. It's nice to feel like I know you, even if we have never met. You make me feel like you view yourself more as an equal to the community and not just all about power. LOL!! That sounded funny, hope you don't take that the wrong way. Mrs. Roberta C.

What are the benefits? Instant communication Allows your unfiltered message to get out Allows for opinions and editorializing directly from your desk You can’t STOP ‘em – you might as well join ‘em

What are the drawbacks? Written words can be misunderstood You can’t run from the controversy It takes a little time – it must be monitored The technology is easy – but not for technophobes Anonymous comments can be frustrating

What have you learned? People care about what you think It‘s a “just-in-time” world It threatens the mainstream media who are worried about becoming less relevant This also threatens our own established ways of communicating and lobbying

Blogging tips Create a “cache” of items in draft format to get ahead when you are starting Make short posts with hyperlinks to on-line news Use a sense of humor Get your own staff in the habit through e-mail reminders

Blogging tips Mix up positive comments about the schools with real content and real issues Do school delays or closings on your blog site. Monitor the site daily Link to other sites Blog breaking news

Show a sense of humor!

Sense of Humor The Stock Mark Report

How to make your blog a dog. Use educational jargon Post infrequently Don’t link Hide your funny bone Talk down to them Write when you’re angry Don’t interact with them

How do I get started? Find a free host Blogger software at blogspot.com LiveJournal WordPress MovableType TypePad Follow directions Blog in 10 minutes

The Vision! Picture a massive overlapping network of blogging educators Interacting Informing Educating Listening Engaging

Contact Information Dr. Mark J. Stock University of Wyoming 307-766-3187 office 307-460-0292 cell mstock1@uwyo.edu

Additional Support Special $950 per semester per person or $1800 a year Dr. Stock will help educational leaders set up their own blogs Dr. Stock will provide personalized feedback to superintendent OR the IT person Phone number is 307-460-0292 Guilt-free assistance!

Professional Development for Administrators Presentations Custom Training and support

Dr. Stock’s Publications The School Administrator’s Guide to Blogging: A New Way to Connect with the Community. Leader as Communicator and Diplomat. Superintendent Blogging, The School Administrator Magazine, August 2009

Dr. Stock’s Blogs The Stock Mark Report http://drmarkstock.com What’s Working in Schools http://hopefoundation.org/hope/blog

Question and Answer Period Questions? Discussion?

Play time Personal Learning Environments How to create your own home page Twitter Feeds Create your own blog

Staying on top of it – the easy way! How to create your own personal learning environment iGoogle http://www.google.com/ig

Creating your own blog http://www.blogger.com/home