Social Media & Entrepreneurship:
Merging the Classroom
with Our Students’ Worlds
Rick Coplin
Venture Development Director
TechColumbus
www.techcolumbus.org
Before We Start
• Who are we?
What We’ll Discuss Today
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Education interest
Our kids, a new world
Social media definitions
What our kids are doing
Our own experiences
Opportunities
School policies
A few examples
Why Social Media & Entrepreneurs
• Dad to three great kids – 10th & 7th grade sons
and a 1st grade daughter
• Computers, cell phones, iTouch/iPad & gaming
• Keeping pace and setting the stage
– Facebook experience
• Business use and positive results
– Dublin Entrepreneurial Center
– www.DECinDublin.com
Technology is evolving; so should we
Why Educators Should be
Interested In Social Media
• Lifestyle integration
– 6th grade = 40%, 12th grade = 90%*
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Effective communication skills offline & online
Reflect & utilize reality
Natural classroom extension
The blackboard vs. interactivity
* Renee Ramig, Social Media in the Classroom, 11/1/2009: http://bit.ly/76br0x
What Is Their World Like?
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Constantly connected, communicating
Unlimited information access
Generational shift B.G. -> G.N.
Discernment skills crucial at young ages
Friendships defined broadly
Conversations fueled by content
Kansas State ethnography video & discussion
– Professor Michael Wesch,
http://mediatedcultures.net/youtube.htm
Why Is Their World So Different?
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Technology is pervasive
We use, kids have integrated
Can you tell me the time please?
Change and innovation
Time and distance irrelevant
Radically different & evolving fast
– Did You Know video educational focus: http://bit.ly/4nT8xE
– Karl Fisch: Did You Know video: http://bit.ly/PzFd, shorter version:
http://bit.ly/aTLm4
Social Media Defined
Social media is how we share information online.
Sometimes we are the audience. And sometimes we
are the author. Often we are both. Social media
tools include blogs, message boards, podcasts, micro
blogs, bookmarks, networks, and wikis.
Social media tools enable anyone to post, comment
on, share content and to form communities
around shared interests.
Angela Siefer
Founder, ShinyDoor
www.theconversationprism.com
www.theconversationprism.com
What Our Kids Are Doing
• 93% of teens (12-17) use the internet
– Share, tell stories, interact
• 75% own cell phones (55% of 12 y/o)
– 66% utilize texting
• 73% use social networking sites
– 52% have two or more profiles
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62% get current events and politics news
57% watch videos online
48% have bought items online
15% Blog
Source: Pew Internet – Social Media & Young Adults, February 2010
What’s Our Experience?
• Who uses (personally / teaching / program):
– Facebook or MySpace
– LinkedIn
– Twitter
– Instant messaging
– Blogs, Wikis
– Videocasts / Podcasts
– Web tools (Wordle etc.)
• Can you access these from school?
• Who uses these for educational purposes?
My Experience
• Work and personal
• Facebook
– Ground rules
• passwords , expectations and guidance
– Friending, other parents & observations
• Photos
• Videos
Social Media Use Is an Opportunity
• Opportunities to teach, lead & communicate
– Privacy
– Copyright s, plagiarism &ownership
– Digital = forever
– Boundaries – comments, photos etc.
– Mistakes, gaffes will occur
– Perceptions: digital world vs. real world
– Global reach
School Policies
• Restrictive to undefined
• Understand the reasons behind restrictions
– Experience / lack of experience
– Apprehension with the unfamiliar
– Fear of an incident or complaint
• ALWAYS work within school & union policies
– Seek appropriate changes via reason and value
– Ask permission
– Experiment
– Encourage
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com
Blogging and Wikis
• Find others relevant to you
• Start your own
• Start a program or company blog
– Product developments
– Customer recommendations
– Videos & pictures
– Comments
– Links to sources
• Result: Interactive Community
• Facebook snow days
Facebook & Twitter
• Establish a store or company page
– Advertisements
– Links to more information
– Specials, discounts
– Project photos / videos
– Invite parents, teachers, administrators,
community members etc.
• Friend teachers, parents & students
– Always inform
Getting Started
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Understand your school & union policies
Know who has authority, influence and interest
Investigate other teachers/programs
Start small, (low expectations help)
Involve teachers, administrators & parents
– Find & recruit partners
• Engage students
• Highlight successes
• Consistently look for the next opportunity to
apply these tools to enhance learning
Thanks!
Contact Rick Coplin:
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RickCoplin
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rickcoplin
Blog: MidWest TechBiz
http://rickcoplin.blogspot.com