Keeping Connected

Blogs & Online CommunitiesAerin GuySpaceRace

www.gospacerace.com

•“when we change the way we communicate, we change society”

•“new technology enables new kinds of group-forming”

We are parents

•we are a community

•how do we connect?

message board

•the old message board

•parents may not even see the inside of the school

school newsletter

•There’s an important note at the bottom of this innocent looking backpack, but you won’t see it until June.

why use blogs & online

communities?

Common Interests

•workshops

•socials

•events

•business opportunities

•volunteering

•taking action

People are busy

•living

•parenting

•shuttling around

•learning

•working

Text

People want to connect

•to our schools

•to other parents

•to the education “community”

•to political decisions that affect us

educators online

parents online

Twitter chats

•#ptchat is a weekly conversation about topics of importance to parents

•http://efacetoday.blogspot.com/p/eface-chats.html

online communities

•get personal (profile)

•discussions

•create a network

•share information

•power in numbers

blogs

•knowledge exchange

•comments for engagement

•many voices - dialogue

•easy to set up and facilitate

•candid and human

What’s available to you?

•explore your networks

•create a new one

•join one that speaks to you

Question Time!