Dr. Joe Mazza, Keynote Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Office of Community Engagement How can teachers, parents, leaders leverage social media to meet families where they are while building a collaborative & transparent learning community. leadlearner.com

1. GET CONNECTED
Miami-Dade County
Public Schools
October 3, 2013
Dr. Joe Mazza
Sharing your learning?
Use #MDCPS13
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2. #PARENTCAMP
Sat, 11/2/13
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3. Resource Links for Today’s Session
• TodaysMeet Backchannel link: www.todaysmeet.com/MDCPS13
• Knapp Elementary Family Engagement Wiki
• On Twitter? Use #MDCPS13 to share your learning today
• Leadlearner.com
• Following today’s sessions, visit slideshare.net (search
MDCPS13) and you will find all slides & links.
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4. My work
Lead Learner at @KnappElementary
“Principals’ Use of Social Media To
Communicate Between Home & School”
University of Pennsylvania, May 2013
Blogger: Edutopia, Connected Principals,
Parent Involvement Matters, Smartblogs,
eFACE Today, LeadLearner.com
National IEL Consultant
PennGSE Innovation Coach
Weekly #PTchat Moderator on Twitter
#PTchat Radio Host (iTunes)
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5. Connecting Schools in a Digital Age
#MDCPS13
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7. Commodore 64 kid
#MDCPS13
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8. #MDCPS13
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9. Hubbard Woods School (K-4)
Winnetka, Illinois
Supporting Post: 3 investment good
leaders make in creating other leaders
#MDCPS13
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12. Community-building
through technology
WGST - Hubbard Woods
Supporting Publication: Methods
That Matter II
#MDCPS13
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13. COMMUNITY - BUILDING
Collaborative
Transparent
Relationship-driven
Builds trust
Implemented with (not to)
Partnership and shared
#MDCPS13
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14. Collaborate by default
Shared problem
Shared action plan
Shared research
Shared actions
Shared next steps
Shared parents’ perspectives
#MDCPS13
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15. #MDCPS13
If we’re serious about collaborating we’re using
collaborative tools by default.
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16. Image credit: http://www.secularstudents.org
Family engagement insanity = continuing
to expect parents to come to us...
#MDCPS13
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17. Schools Must Meet Parents Where They
Are If They Are Committed to Building &
Maintaining Home-School Partnerships
460,000 people sign up for Twitter accounts each day. 70% of these sign-ups
are aged 18-35. (Pew Internet Study, 2011)
Supporting Post - Case for eFACE #MDCPS13
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18. Where to begin?
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19. Invest in Communication Without Technology
Beyond the Bakesale (2007) - Four Core Beliefs
#MDCPS13
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20. FACE
Family And Community Engagement
Dr. Joyce Epstein Dr. Karen Mapp Dr. Anne Henderson Dr. Steve Constantino
The research is robust.
#MDCPS13
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21. Welcome. Honor. Respect.
#MDCPS13
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22. Get Connected
...See through the lens of those already using these tools
#MDCPS13
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23. Joined Twitter Summer 2011
as @Joe_Mazza
Began following 10
@NMHS_Principal
@LarryFerlazzo
@ShellTerrell
@Edutopia
@GCouros
@Cybraryman1
@TomWhitby
@ChrisLehmann
@webclassroom
@l_hilt
Image credit: coroflot.com
Supporting Post - Parents’ Guide to Twitter
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24. Social media based professional
development is now available where
teacher preparation and educational
leadership programs miss the mark.
#MDCPS13
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25. Family engagement
Technology integration
Collaborative transparency
#MDCPS13
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26. #MDCPS13
Weekly Hashtag Chats
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28. #PTchat (Parent-Teacher Chats)
Wednesdays at 9PM EDT
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29. #MDCPS13
Meets virtually every Monday night at 9PM CST
Supporting Post: The origin of #ohedchat by Jeremy Evans
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30. Recent #OHEDCHAT
Conversations
■ RtI/IAT
■ Content Area Literacy
■ Students Creating Textbooks &
Digital Literacy
■ Ten Trending Topics
■ Educational Leadership
■ Project Based Learning (PBL)
■ Standards-Based Grading
■ Professional Development, Part I & II
#MDCPS13
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31. What is the impact of social media tools like
Facebook, Blogs, Instagram, Youtube, Wikis &
Twitter on home-school partnerships?
#MDCPS13
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32. #MDCPS13
March 2011:
Is there any research out there re: the use of
social media to connect home & school?
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33. Dissertation Debrief
Use of Social Media Tools By
School Principals to Communicate
Between Home & School
Joe Mazza, University of Pennsylvania
#MDCPS13
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34. Qualitative Case Study Analysis
-> 3 Principals
-> 3 Parent leadership groups
-> Actual social media evidence
What works? What doesn’t? Next steps?
#MDCPS13
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35. FACE
Family And Community Engagement
Dr. Joyce Epstein Dr. Karen Mapp Dr. Anne Henderson Dr. Steve Constantino
The research is robust.
#MDCPS13
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36. eFACE
electronic Family And Community Engagement
voicemail
Email
fax machine
P.A. system
460,000 per day (Pew Internet Survey)
#MDCPS13
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37. Epstein’s 6 Types of Involvement
Image credit: http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_model/school/sixtypes.htm
#MDCPS13
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38. Epstein’s 6 Types of Involvement
Image credit: http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_model/school/sixtypes.htm
#MDCPS13
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39. Family Engagement Core Values
1) All parents have dreams for their children and
want the best for them.
2) All parents have the capacity to support their
children's learning.
3) Parents and school staff should be equal
partners.
4) The responsibility for building partnerships
between school and home rests primarily with
school staff, especially school leaders.
(Henderson & Mapp, 2007)
Image credit: http://www.howstuffworks.com
#MDCPS13
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40. Using Social Media:
Research Questions
•What communication benefits are being
experienced?
•What communication challenges are being
experienced?
•What does the actual social media evidence
found publicly online suggest?
#MDCPS13
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41. Methodology
Convenience Sample
Qualitative Case Study Analysis
3 Principals
3 Parent focus groups
3 Sets of social media artifacts
#MDCPS13
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42. Findings
School principals are responsible
Limited leadership preparation for using social
media tools
Tools offer two-way communication by default
Tools offer direct and immediate access to
principal
Educational “branding” occurs
#MDCPS13
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43. Findings (cont.)
Learning community can communicate in the
same conversation without being in the same room
A true depth of how many parents utilized social
media tools to support teaching and learning is
unclear
One size does not fit all. There is a single “one
tool” that all parents use. Various “preferences”
came from parents at each of the schools studied.
#MDCPS13
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44. Findings (cont.)
Schools used social media tools to recognize,
announce, solicit feedback, remind, build
relationships and engage learning community
directly and indirectly connected to school.
Above all, parents seek face to face, two-way
communications with respect to eye contact, tone,
empathy, respect
Social media tools aimed to complement family
engagement efforts already in place by three
schools, not replace them. #MDCPS13
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45. Implications for Practice
It’s not about the technology
Focus on embedding core beliefs of school, family
and community partnerships before engaging
social media tools.
How school and parent leaders can go about
entering the world of social media to engage
families and the community.
#MDCPS13
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46. It’s not about the tools, but the
relationships
“Technology should be like
oxygen; ubiquitous, necessary,
and invisible.”
@ChrisLehmann
#MDCPS13
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47. Implications for Practice (cont.)
Training
Need for University and school-based professional
development for school leaders on school, family
and community partnerships.
Need for professional development for school
leaders, educators, parents and other learning
community members on use of social media tools
#MDCPS13
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48. Implications for Practice (cont.)
One Size Does Not Fit All
Access, home use and training needs should be
identified consistently; Per district, per school, per
class.
Schools must identify which tools work best, and
which tools parents already depend on in their
personal lives. Build a “menu of communication
offerings” to “meet parents where they are.”
#MDCPS13
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49. Making Connections:
Engaging Families With Social
Media Tools
Joe Mazza
leadlearner.com
#PARENTCAMP
Sat, 11/2/13
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50. Ongoing Face to Face Two-Way Communications
Four Core Beliefs (Henderson & Mapp, 2008)
Email Distribution List
Family Engagement Wiki
Home & School 2.0Twitter
Text Alerts
“Mobile App”?
PollEverywhere
Skype Parent-Teacher Conferences
Remind 101 - Text Alerts
A “MENU” of communications grown over time
Google Voice/Text line
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51. How Do You Know What YOUR
Parents Are Using For Work & Home?
#MDCPS13
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52. ASK THEM in multiple ways
Mazza, J. (2013). The Use of Social Media By School Principals To
Communicate Between Home and School. #MDCPS13
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53. Epstein’s 6 Types of Involvement
Image credit: http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_model/school/sixtypes.htm
#MDCPS13
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54. Mazza, J. (2013). The Use of Social Media By School Principals To
Communicate Between Home and School. #MDCPS13
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55. Welcoming-Honoring-Respecting
Main Lobby Components
• Welcoming front office staff
• Clocks relating to timezones of our families
• Parent Resource Center
• Parent Computer Kiosk
• Signage in top 5 languages
• Student work
• Sitting Area
• Principal’s Office #MDCPS13
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56. How do liability concerns impact
family engagement?
December 21, 2012
Winter Sing-A-Long
Gym Capacity: 626
#MDCPS13
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57. Face to face two-way communication - A
foundation or “home button” for home-
school partnerships
Image credit: inspiredmamadesigns.blogspot.com
Supporting Post: Leadership “Home Button” #MDCPS13
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58. Getting Started With Social Media Checklist
1. Identify and invest in family engagement core values.
2. Become a connected educator.
3. Understand the distinct communication needs of your school families.
4. Understand the parameters.
5. Share decision-making.
6. Build capacity.
7. Technology is not the answer to solving conflict.
8. Introduce new tools.
9. Offer a menu of offerings.
Mazza, J. (2013). The Use of Social Media By School Principals To
Communicate Between Home and School. #MDCPS13
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59. Shared eFACE
Efforts Implemented
@KnappElementary
#MDCPS13
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60. Supporting Post - Home & School 2.0
Average parent-teacher-community attendance = 43 (pre live feed option = 13)
for monthly home and school meetings
anymeeting.com
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61. “Meet Families Where They Are”
What does that mean for your school?
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62. Plant the seeds. Provide ongoing training for parents & teachers.
Overlay Tool: Twitterfall
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63. Supporting Post - 12 Reasons to Get your School Tweeting
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64. “@KnappElementary: @MissMorrison’s students read their newly
published eBooks to 2nd grade buddies today & will share them
with their family tonight!”
dinner table
Tell me about this book
you published.
Supporting Post - 5 Ways Being Connected Helps My Students
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65. Supporting Post: #EdCamp Comes to @KnappElementary
#EdCamp style PD comes to @KnappElementary
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66. November 2, 2013
2013 Keynote
Dr. Adam Berman
2012 Keynote
Melissa Bilash (@MomCongressPA)
Follow-up Post on ParentCamp via Edutopia
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70. Ongoing Face to Face Two-Way Communications
Four Core Beliefs (Henderson & Mapp, 2007)
Email Distribution List
Family Engagement Wiki
Home & School 2.0Twitter
Text Alerts
“Mobile App”?
PollEverywhere
Skype Parent-Teacher Conferences
Remind 101 - Text Alerts
Offer A “Menu” of Communications (Restaurant-Style)
Google Voice/Text line
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71. How will you communicate this to families?
#MDCPS13
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72. “Menu” of Communications
Face to Face
Phone
Send a note
Zippslip
Skype
E-mail
Google Text
Twitter
Knapp App (Apple/Android)
Edmodo
Home & School 2.0 Mtg
H&S Facebook Page
Supporting Post - “I’m Overwhelmed with all the technology here.”
[Back to School Night Slide]
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73. Supporting Post - Evolution of Lead Learner by George Couros
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74. pennfinn13.wordpress.com
facebook.com/pennfinn13
Inside Finland’s Education System
3/23/13 - 3/30/13
TEACHERS - ADMIN - PARENTS - STUDENTS
Connected Learning Community
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75. Family Engagement Wiki
knappwiki.wikispaces.com
Parent Perspectives
Image credit: akademifantasia.org
What Do Knapp Parents have to say
about eFACE efforts?
(Video Link)
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76. (12-13 family/staff bumper sticker)
@Joe_Mazza - leadlearner.com
Lead Learner @KnappElementary
Using Social Media to
Maximize Family And
Community Engagement
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