Educators Increasingly Join Social Networks

Educators and Social Networking:
How and Why Educators are Joining Online Communities
December 11, 2012

Presenting new research conducted by MMS Education
and co-sponsored by edWeb.net and MCH Strategic Data

MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic Data 2012
Copyright 1

Introducing the Presenters

Susan Meell
CEO
MMS Education
@MMS_Education

Lisa Schmucki
Founder and CEO
edWeb.net
@edwebnet

Kelly Stewart
Senior Director of Marketing
MMS Education
@MMS_Education

© 2012 MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic
MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic Data Data 2

Webinar Tips

• Use the text chat! Post comments, ask questions, get
support.
• Close any other applications (like Skype) that use
bandwidth.
• Maximize your screen for a larger view by using the link
in the upper right corner.
• Tweeting? @edwebnet @mms_education#edchat
#edtech #ce12
• A link to the recording of this webinar, the slides, and a
CE certificate will be sent to you after the webinar.
• YOU CAN DOWN LOAD A COPY OF THE REPORT AT:
www.mmseducation.com , www.edweb.net, or
www.mchdata.com
MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic Data

Our Presentation Today

Presentation of Findings
2012 Survey of K-12 Educators on Social Networking, Online
Communities, and Web 2.0 Tools

• Growing Support for Connected Educators
• Survey Goals, Methodology, Participants
• General vs. Education Social Networking Sites
• Proprietary Online Communities
• Web 2.0 Tools
• Devices, Connectivity, Access Policies, and BYOD
• Educator Comments: Pros and Cons
• What the Research Means for Educators
• What the Research Means for the Education Industry
• Q&A

© 2012 MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic
MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic Data Data 4

Growing Support for “Connected Educators”

U.S Department of Education
2010 National Education Technology Plan
Connected Educators Initiative

Connected Educator Month – August 2012

150+ organizations, communities, and companies
400+ events and activities
2,200+ speakers

“Social networks can be used to provide educators with
The U.S. Department of career-long personal learning tools and resources that
Education declared make professional learning timely and relevant as well
August 2012 “Connected as an ongoing activity that continually improves
Educator Month” practice and evolves their skills over time.”
– The National Education Technology Plan 2010


Survey Goals for 2012

Goals included:
• Update the 2009 Study, A Survey of K-12
Educators on Social Networking and
Content-Sharing Tools
• General social networking sites vs.
education-focused sites
• Survey principals, teachers, and school
librarians
• Understand perceived value and concerns
• Track usage of other online communities
and Web 2.0 tool

• School/district policies and Web 2.0 tools
NEW • Quality of Internet access in schools

for 2012 • Devices educators are using to access online information
• School policies regarding BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)


Survey Methodology

In 2012, • Online blind survey conducted by MMS
Education with the MCH K-12 Educator
the survey Database.
deployed to
• The survey was deployed in September
200,000
2012, to 200,000 randomly selected
educators in educators, including
the U.S. principals, teachers, and librarians.

• Some inherent technology bias since
study was conducted only with
educators with email addresses.
2009 2012 • Variance in response rates between
Total Completed Responses 1,284 694 2009 and 2012 could be attributed to
Response Rate 1.5% .35%
several factors -- an incentive was
offered in 2009, and the survey was
fielded for a longer period of time.


Survey Participants

Who participated in the survey?
Principals, Teachers, Librarians
Similar and consistent participation across job
titles in both surveys.

2009 2012
Other Other
3% 4%
Principals
19%
Principals
30%
Teachers Teachers
47% 49%
Librarians/
Librarians/ Media
Media Specialists
Specialists 28%
20%


Educator Participation in Social Networks

Are you currently a member of, or have you ever joined, a social networking
website for personal, educational, or professional reasons?

% who indicated that they are a member of or have ever joined a social networking site

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

2009
61%
2012 All
82%

70%
Librarians/Media Specialists
89%

59%
Teachers
80%

54%
Principals
76%


Educator Participation in Social Networks – Key Findings

• Educator membership in social networks has increased
from 61% to 82% — 34% growth from 2009 to 2012.

• 82% of educators who responded say they are a
member of a social networking website.

• Membership has grown significantly for all job
categories – principals, teachers, and librarians.

• Librarians show the highest level of participation, as in
Educator 2009, with 89% reporting they have joined a social
membership in network.
social networks
has grown
among
principals, libra
rians and
teachers



2012
Age andyears in 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

the profession
appear to be Age 18-34 97% 3%
the biggest
differentiators Yes
in social Age 35-54 85% 15% No

networking

Age 55+ 75% 25%

• Membership in social networks is clearly influenced by
age.

• The data shows the same trend line for membership when
compared to number of years in teaching.



The increase in 100% 97%

the number of 78%
85%
80% 75%
educators over 65%
age 55 who 60%
2009
have joined 47%
2012
social networks 40%

has jumped
20%
from 47% to
75% since 2009 0%
Age 18-34 Age 35-54 Age 55+

• Although age appears to influence membership in social
networks, educators over the age of 55 are definitely on
board with this new technology.
• This is positive news for champions of social networks in
education since veteran educators tend to have more
authority in decision making and overall influence in
educational institutions.



Percent of educators who are members of a social networking site.
Female educators 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
are slightly more
likely to be 55%
2009
members of a 63%
Male

social network — Female

membership has 79%
2012
increased across 84%

both genders
since 2009

• 84% of women are members of a social network vs.
79% of men.
• In contrast, 63% of women and 55% of men were
members of social networks in 2009.
• There was no significant difference in participation in
social networking by grade level or by metro status
(urban, rural, suburban).


General Social Networking Websites

Are you a member of any of the following general social networking websites?
Compared to % that are members, among those who are
2009, members of at least one social network
Facebook 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
remains the
85%
dominant Facebook
85%
site, with
14%
significant LinkedIn
41%
growth
Not asked in 2009 2009
reported for Twitter
39% 2012
LinkedIn
Not asked in 2009
Google Plus
Google+ 27%
Educators very
active in Ning
11%
11%
Twitter and
Google+ MySpace
20%
7%

Among those who indicated that they have joined a social networking site, the % who indicated
Pinterest was that they are a member of these social networking sites. The communities listed above are
written in by many those that received a 5% or greater mention from the survey respondents.
respondents

General Social Networking Websites – Differences by Age

% that are members, among those who are
members of at least one social network
Younger 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

educators are 98%
Facebook 90%
more likely to 91%
91%
be members of 56%
Twitter and Twitter
39%
53%

Google+; older 35%
35% Age 18-34
educators LinkedIn 41% Age 35-44
47%
members of 56% Age 45-54 yrs

Linked In Google
41%
38%
Age 55+
Google+
Plus 30%
16%
Age does not 8%
17%
appear to be a Ning
11%
9%
significant
18%
differentiating MySpace 8%
4%
factor for 7%

Facebook


General Social Networking Websites – Frequency of Use
Please indicate how frequently you visit the sites of which you are a member.

Weekly or more frequently Monthly Periodically Seldom/Never
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Facebook 80% 7% 9% 4%

Twitter 48% 12% 25% 15%

Google Plus
Google+ 31% 23% 27% 19%

LinkedIn 16% 23% 32% 29%

Ning 9% 21% 46% 24%

MySpace 4% 8% 86%
2%

Note: Small sample sizes for Ning and MySpace


General Social Networking Websites – Frequency of Use by Job Function
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Facebook 87%
82%
Facebook has LinkedIn 25%
60%
% that are members, among those
the highest Twitter 52%
55%
who are members of at least one
Principals
level of Google+
Google Plus 32%
43%
% of members that visit weekly or
more frequently
frequency use Ning 0%
13%

by all job MySpace 0%
7%

categories, foll Facebook 92%
82%
owed by LinkedIn 39%
10%
Twitter and Twitter 32%
51%
Google+ Teachers
Google+
Google Plus 28%
27%
Ning 9%
13%
MySpace 6%
0%

Facebook 93%
80%
LinkedIn 52%
21%
Twitter 46%
Librarians/Media 40%
Specialists Google Plus
Google+ 30%
26%
Ning 18%
10%
MySpace 7%
9%


Education-Focused Social Networks
Are you currently a member of any of the following social networking sites that
focus specifically on education?

% that are members, among those who are
Several members of at least one social network
education- 0% 20% 40%

focused social Not asked in 2009
Edmodo
networks show 27%

significant growth edWeb.net 2%
15%
compared Not asked in 2009
ASCD Edge
to 2009 – and 9%

several new sites Classroom 2.0 5%
9%
added to the list
We Are Teachers 2%
since then 6%
Not asked in 2009
Teacher 2.0
5%
NSTA Learning Not asked in 2009
2009
Center 4%
Not asked in 2009
2012
Educators PLN
3%

The communities listed above are those that received a 2% or greater mention from the survey respondents.


EDUCATION-FOCUSED NETWORKS: How frequently Use
Education-Focused Social Networks – Frequency of do educators visit?

Please indicate how frequently you visit the sites of which you are a member.

Weekly or more frequently Monthly Periodically Seldom/Never
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

edWeb.net 44% 32% 19% 5%

Edmodo 42% 26% 23% 9%

ASCD Edge 38% 32% 23% 8%

Classroom 2.0 26% 35% 32% 6%

Teacher 2.0 25% 28% 42% 6%

We Are Teachers 22% 17% 54% 7%

Educators PLN 14% 43% 24% 19%

NSTA Learning Center 11% 48% 33% 7%
Note: Small sample size for ASCD, Classroom 2.0, Teacher 2.0, We Are
Teachers, Educators PLN and NSTA Learning Center.


Education-Focused Social Networks – Frequency of Use by Job Function
0% 20% 40% 60%

Edmodo 21%
Members of 33%
% that are members, among those
17%
education- edWeb.net
41%
who are members of at least one
Principals % of members that visit weekly or
focused sites ASCD Edge 39% more frequently
53%
report high 6%
Classroom 2.0
frequency of use 17%

across all job 26%
Edmodo
functions 49%

edWeb.net 5%
27%
Teachers
ASCD Edge 3%
22%

Classroom 2.0 5%
21%

Edmodo 31%
40%

edWeb.net 31%
Librarians/Media 56%
Specialists
ASCD Edge 3%
33%

Classroom 2.0 16%
32%


Separating Personal and Professional Accounts

Do you use separate social networking accounts for your
personal vs. professional activities?

80% of
educators who I use separate
No, I don't keep
them separate.
are members of accounts some of
13%
the time.
at least one 7%
social network
keep separate
I use separate
accounts all or accounts most of the
I use separate
most of the time.
accounts all of
time 20%
the time.
60%

Very little
difference by
age, gender, or
job title

MMS Education | edWeb.net | MCH Strategic Data 80% 21

The Value of Using Social Networks

Please indicate the value in using social networks for the following purposes:
Very Valuable Somewhat Valuable Not Valuable

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

To connect with family and friends 73% 23% 4%
To share information and resources 55% 36% 10%
To connect with professional colleagues 46% 45% 8%
To build a personal learning network 40% 42% 18%
To get support from peers 39% 48% 13%
To create professional learning communities 39% 45% 16%
For online professional development support 37% 46% 17%
To collaborate on initiatives and projects 35% 48% 17%
To connect with the local community 34% 51% 15%
To learn how social networking and Web 2.0 tools… 34% 46% 20%
To find information on products and services 33% 49% 18%
To improve schoolwide communications 33% 41% 26%
To become familiar with social networking 31% 49% 20%
To find job and career opportunities 26% 47% 26%
To connect with parents 24% 41% 35%
To connect with students 18% 38% 44%


The Value of Using Social Networks – By Job Function
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

71%
To connect with family and friends 73%
71%
61%
To share information and resources 50%
60%
51%
To connect with professional colleagues 42%
47%
49% Principals
To create professional learning communities 31%
46% Teachers
48% Librarians/ Media Specialists
To build a personal learning network 30%
48%
47%
To connect with the local community 27%
35%
43% % who said “very valuable”
To improve schoolwide communications 29%
34%
43%
For online professional development support 30%
43%
42%
To collaborate on initiatives and projects 29%
39%
39%
To get support from peers 34%
44%
35%
To find information on products and services 33%
30%
34%
To connect with parents 21%
23%
To learn how social networking and Web 2.0 tools can be 34%
24%
incorporated into teaching 45%
31%
To find job and career opportunities 25%
27%
29%
To become familiar with social networking 29%
34%
13%
To connect with students 21%
14%


The Value of Using Social Networks

• Principals and librarians/media specialists had similar responses.
Beyond friends They find social networks to be more valuable than do teachers
and family… for several purposes, including:

educators believe • Online professional development support

social networks are • Building a personal learning network
• Creating professional learning communities
good for sharing
• Collaborating on initiatives and projects
information and • Improving school-wide communications
resources, connecti • Connecting with the local community
ng with • Teachers also find social networks helpful for:
colleagues, and • Sharing information and resources
building a personal • Connect with professional colleagues
learning network
• Building a personal learning network

• Teachers more interested in using social media to connect with
students than principals and librarians/media specialists

• Share concerns about the possibility of inappropriate
relationships with students online that could
jeopardize their jobs.


Joining an Additional Social Network
How likely are you to join a new or additional social networking site in the
next 12 months?

% who said they were very likely to join a new or additional social networking site in the next 12 months
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

4%
A site for personal use 5%
10% Principals

Teachers
22%
A site dedicated to education for
26% Librarians/ Media
use in the classroom
25% Specialists

A professional social networking 31%
site for professional
22%
development, peer to peer
collaboration, etc. 34%

• Greatest opportunity is likely to be in educational and professional sites rather
than sites for personal use for all three job categories.


Concernsabout Social Networking
Please indicate any concerns you have about joining a social networking site.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

84%
I am concerned about my personal privacy.
45%

67%
I am already too busy and don't have time.
57%

I already get too many emails and online 62%
communications. 65%

My school/district does not allow me to access many 50%
of these sites. 33%

I am concerned about mixing personal and 61%
professional information and relationships. 34%

I am concerned about inappropriate relationships with 56%
students. 26%
I am concerned my membership in a social network
42%
might lead to an incident that might jeopardize my
26%
job. General SN Sites

I don't receive any job or career credit for participating 24%
Educational SN Sites
in online communities. 37%


Top Concerns – General Sites vs. Educational Sites

General Social Networks 100% Educational Networks

Personal privacy - 84%
80%

70%
Too busy/not enough time - 67%
Too many emails and online communications - 62% 60% Too many emails and online communications - 65%
Mixing personal & professional lives - 61%

Inappropriate relationships with students - 56% 50% Too busy/not enough time - 57%
Not allowed by school/district - 50%
Personal privacy - 45%
Might jeopardize job - 42% 40%
Don't receive job or career credit for it - 37%
30% Mixing personal & professional lives - 34%
Not allowed by school/district - 33%
Inappropriate relationships with students - 26%
20% Might jeopardize job - 26%
Don't receive job or career credit for it - 24%


Proprietary Online Communities
Are you currently a member of any of the following online communities
or platforms that focus on education?

% that are members among those that selected at least one of the communities listed
0% 20% 40% 60%

Discovery Education Network 52%

BrainPOP Educators 30%

Edutopia 29%

PBS Teachers 27%

Moodle 27%

Blackboard 24%

SMART Exchange 21%

Scholastic Teacher Share 19%

Thinkfinity 18%

Teachers Pay Teachers 18%

The communities listed above are those that received a 15% or
greater mention from the survey respondents.


Proprietary Online Communities

Top 5 Communities by Job Function

Rank Principals Teachers Librarians

1 Discovery Education Discovery Education Discovery Education
Network – 25% Network – 37% Network – 49%
2 Edutopia – 25% BrainPOP Educators – 17% Edutopia – 31%

3 Moodle – 24% SMART Exchange – 19% PBS Teachers – 30%
4 Blackboard – 22% Moodle – 19% Thinkfinity – 25%

5 BrainPOP Educators – 17% Teachers Pay Teachers – 18% BrainPOP Educators – 24%

Discovery Education Network and BrainPOP Educators
are in the top 5 for all job categories


Educators' Use of Web 2.0 Tools
Are you currently using any of the following Web 2.0 tools for personal
use, professional use, or in the classroom?
% use by those educators who indicated they are using Web 2.0 tools
For PERSONAL use For PROFESSIONAL use For use IN THE CLASSROOM
0% 20% 40% 60%

44%
Social Networks 22%
7%
18%
Document Sharing 34%
15%
7%
Webinars 48%
3%
33%
Photo Sharing 9%
8%
8%
Wikis 25%
9%
19%
Video Sharing 11%
10%
12%
Blogs 16%
9%
10%
Podcasts 18%
8%
11%
Social Bookmarking 10%
3%
8%
RSS Feeds 12%
2%


Respondents shared their perceptions of access to these tools
School/District Policies on Access to Web 2.0 Tools

Please characterize your school/district's policy for access to Web 2.0 tools
for both teachers and students.

Very open Somewhat restrictive Very restrictive
47% of educators
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
say the policy for
access to Web 2.0
tools for students ...for teachers: 21% 56% 23%
is very restrictive

Only 9% say
the policy for ...for students: 9% 44% 47%

access is very
open for students
• Policies for teachers are less restrictive than policies for students.
• Teachers view the policies as more restrictive than principals.
• 18-34 year-old educators are less likely than their older peers to
describe their school/district's policy for teachers as “very open.”


Quality of Internet Access

How good is the Internet service in your school/district?

Excellent Good OK Poor

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Principals 38% 42% 18% 2%

Teachers 25% 46% 24% 5%

Librarians/Media Specialists 32% 45% 20% 4%

• High percentage of educators rate their Internet service as either excellent
or good, with less than 5% rating it as poor.


Devices Used to Access Social Networks

What devices do you use to access the social networking sites you belong to?
(Among those who indicated that they are currently a member of or have ever joined a social networking site.)

Often Sometimes Rarely Never
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Desktop Computer 47% 24% 12% 17%

Laptop Computer 60% 20% 9% 11%

Smartphone 38% 18% 7% 37%

Tablet Computer 30% 15% 8% 47%

• Educators who are members of social networks report that they most
often use a laptop computer to access their social networking
sites, followed by their desktop computer.

Devices Used to Access Social Networks – By Function
Devices Used to Access S Networks – By Job Job Function

Percent reporting they use the listed device “often.”
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Desktop Computer, 46%
Laptop Computer, 55%
Principals
Smartphone, 52%
Tablet Computer, 47%

Teachers
Smartphone, 37%

Librarians/ Media Specialists
Smartphone, 30%

• Librarians report using desktop computers more often than principals and teachers.
• Principals report using smartphones and tablets more often than teachers and librarians.
• Laptops are used at similar rates (55-62% say “often”) among all three groups.
• Principals appear to use all four device types roughly equally, while teachers use laptops
more often than other devices, and librarians use desktops and laptops more than smart
phones and tablets.

Devices Used to Access Social Networks– By Age


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

18-34 yrs old
Smartphone, 60%
35-44 yrs old
Smartphone, 55%
45-54 yrs old
Smartphone, 33%
55+ yrs old
Smartphone, 20%

• Older educators are more likely to use desktop computers, while younger educators are more likely to use
smartphones and tablets.
• Laptops are used at similar rates (56-65% say “often”) among all age groups.


d
Devices Used to Access Social Networks– By Metro Status



0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Rural
Smartphone, 32%

Suburban
Smartphone, 38%

Urban
Smartphone, 50%

• Smartphone usage appears to be higher in urban communities than in rural or suburban.

• Usage rates of the other devices appears to be similar across all three community types.


Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) Policies
Does your district allow students to bring their own laptops tablets and/or mobile
phones for use in the classroom? Yes, with no
restrictions.
5%

It's fairly evenly
split between
districts that do
and don't allow No, they do not
54%
students to bring allow it.
Yes, but their use
46%
their own is restricted.
49%
mobile devices
for classroom use

• 54% allow students to bring devices, but 49% do so with
restrictions.
• There was no significant difference by district size or locale.


What's the BYOD policy?
Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) Policies
What is the likelihood that your district will allow students to bring their own
laptops, tablets, and/or mobile phones?

64% of educators*
indicate they are
Very unlikely
either somewhat or 19% Very likely
very likely to move to 26%

BYOD in the future
64%
Somewhat unlikely
17%

Somewhat likely
38%

* Of those who said they currently don’t allow mobile devices
or their current use is restricted.


Educator Comments

Concerns

I think social networking sites can be beneficial, but I've never known
of any students and very few adults who use them appropriately. Big
time-waster as an administrator dealing with social networking issues
with students, parents, etc. — Principal

Too many educators in my district are “friending” students, not
“teaching” students. They are crossing the professional boundaries.
— Teacher

We are given no time and no help in incorporating social networking
and Web 2.0 tools into our curricula. — Librarian/Media Specialist


Educator Comments

Advocates It is SO very important that we as teachers begin to use
technology, as students are already “equipped” with the mindset
for technology. Change has come and is changing even more.
Students need education in the means that is pertinent to them
and engaging as well. They love computers, smart
phones, etc., and this is the 21st century, where letters and cards
rarely exist. We must compete with other countries and therefore
need to prepare our students for the 21st century.
— Teacher

I believe we need to teach our students the proper way to use
these tools in school versus outside of school. By blocking all of
these tools with a filter, we are not encouraging their growth
personally, intellectually, or globally with other world citizens. I
believe our school, and many in our country, are far behind on our
Internet policies and using social media in education.
— Librarian/Media Specialist


Impact for Educators

• Why Become a Connected Educator?
– Many opportunities for free PD
– Expand your personal learning network and network of colleagues
– Find information and resources to improve teaching and learning
• How to Get Started
– Join Twitter and follow hashtags like #edchat #edtech #ce12 or follow
associations you’re a member of, or leading educators.
– Join an education-focused social networking website
• edmodo is great for creating social networking communities with students
• edWeb.net has PLCs on many topics for professional collaboration
– Create a community of your own to connect with colleagues
– Keep your personal and professional information separate
• Participate in the US DOE Connected Educator Events
– www.connectededucators.org


Impact for the Education Industry

• Use of Social Media Sites
– Important to keep personal and professional messages separate
– Use of education sites most likely to grow for all job categories
• Product Development
– Impact of BYOD and mobile devices
– Complexity of designing for multiple platforms and applications
• Marketing and Sales
• Communication tool more than a targeted marketing tool
• Must fit a business strategy, relevant content very important
• Customer Engagement
– Expanded opportunities for engagement with prospects and customers --
including students on a 24/7 basis
– Impact on customer service and tech support


Q&A

Please post your comments and
questions in the text chat window.


Get Your Free Copy of the Report

Download
yourfreecopy

Continue the
conversation online
by joining the
ConnectedEducators
CommunityonedWe
b.net www.mmseducation.com
www.edweb.net/CE www.edweb.net
@edwebnet www.mchdata.com


For More Information

Contact us directly to learn more

Susan Meell |CEO
smeell@mmseducation.com
800-523-5948, ext. 3142
www.mmseducation.com

Lisa Schmucki | Founder & CEO
lisa@edweb.net
800-575-6015, ext. 100
www.edweb.net | @edwebnet

John Hood | President
JohnH@mchdata.com
800-776-6373
www.mchdata.com


Educators Increasingly Join Social Networks

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Mais procurados

Mais procurados (20)

Semelhante a Educators Increasingly Join Social Networks

Semelhante a Educators Increasingly Join Social Networks (20)

Último

Último (20)

Educators Increasingly Join Social Networks

Notas do Editor