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

• • • • • • • • 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 – 10 th and a 1 st grade daughter & 7 th grade sons 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 – 6 th grade = 40%, 12 th grade = 90%* 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?

• • • • • • • 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?

• • • • • • 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

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 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

• • • • • • • • 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