A guide for educators which highlights the importance of awareness about social media issues in order to advise and guide young people in the digital age.

1. COMMUNICATING
IN THE DIGITAL AGE
A Guide for Educators
By
Dr Helen Dixon
Information Services
Queen’s University Belfast
@HelenDixon10

2. EVERYTHING IN
EDUCATION
REVOLVES AROUND
COMMUNICATION
@HelenDixon10

3. How has technology changed communication?
@HelenDixon10

4. INTRODUCING THE EDUCATOR 3.0
Profiles on website or social media
Up-to-date online presence
Communicates effectively online
Confident technology user
Encourages digital literacy and citizenship
Teaches digital skills by example

5. Faster communication means it is important to
take our time crafting our message
@HelenDixon10
I begin already to weigh my
words and sentences more
than I did…
Jane Austen

6. 65% of
adults in NI
have used
Facebook
13% have
posted
something
they regret
Source:
Ofcom
Survey
August 2015
@HelenDixon10

7. EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGES
ARE NOT SIMILAR
For formal communications,
emails are best - unless the
message is urgent or if the
recipient may not be able
to access their email
account
An informal tone may be
acceptable for text
messages but is often not
appropriate for emails
@HelenDixon10

8. EMAIL ETIQUETTE
• E.g. “Revised date for team meeting”
Include a clear subject
line
• “Dear Professor Austen” or “Dear Jane”
• Avoid “Hey” or “Hiya”
Use professional
salutations
• Don’t rely on spellcheck and beware of autocorrect!
Proofread your
message carefully
• Add email address last and double-check that it is
correct
• Use “Reply to all” with care!
Make sure you have
selected the right
recipient

9. WISDOM IS BETTER THAN WIT – JANE AUSTEN
Humour often does not translate well online!
@HelenDixon10

10. An email may be forwarded to others or disclosed in response to a
request under the Freedom of Information or Data Protection Acts!
Don’t put
anything in
an email
unless you
are happy
for the rest
of the world
to read it!
@HelenDixon10

11. ONE HALF OF THE WORLD
CANNOT UNDERSTAND
THE PLEASURES OF THE OTHER
@HelenDixon10
Jane Austen
(Emma 1815)
Like?
Like it or not, social
media is one of the most
important methods of
communication available
today

13. A student tells you that
they have posted
something online that
they regret.
What do you do?
@HelenDixon10

14. By age 10,
59% of
children
have used
a social
network
http://www.knowthenet.org.u
k/articles/kids-not-
equipped-coming-digital-
age-nine
@HelenDixon10

15. Age 9
• Access
YouTube
• Use a
mobile or
laptop
Age 10
• Start using
internet
slang e.g.
YOLO
• Use instant
messaging
Age 11
• Share an
image or
video of
themselves
• Post a
nasty
comment
• Set up a
fake profile
Age 12
• Try Twitter
and
WhatsApp
• Message
someone
online that
they haven’t
met in real
life
Age 13
• Use
Snapchat
and Ask.fm
• Try sexting
A CHILD’S SOCIAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT
http://www.knowthenet.org.uk/articles/kids-not-equipped-coming-digital-age-nine
@HelenDixon10

16. We must
learn before
we can teach
A social media code for parents and educators

17. SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP YOU
Find out about the latest
developments in education
Network with other
professionals
Learn new skills
Enhance your professional
reputation

18. SOCIAL MEDIA CAN ALSO
Waste your valuable time
Blur professional and
personal boundaries
Expose your personal life
to scrutiny
Damage your career
prospects

19. MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA WORK FOR YOU
Set up a
profile
Follow other
professionals
Listen and
learn
Comment
and curate
Share your
own content
@HelenDixon10
LinkedIn or left out?

20. DIGITAL PROFESSIONALISM
• about the impact on you, your institution
and othersTHINK
• sharing, make sure that the information
is correct and that you have permissionBEFORE
• are responsible for anything you
publish onlineYOU
• only content that will add value and
enhance your reputationPOST
@HelenDixon10

21. The Golden Rule -
If it’s online, it’s NOT private!
@HelenDixon10

22. Sense &
Sensibility
1811
@HelenDixon10

23. WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Developing a Personal Learning Network Using
Social Media
Facebook for Educators and Community Leaders
The Teacher’s Guide to Twitter
Engaging Your School Community Through Social
Media
Parents’ Guides from ConnectSafely
@SocialMediaQUB SocialMediaQUB