"Welcome to EdTechAfterDark! Our community was born out of discussions for a rich EdChat type gathering for those of us who are thinking about the digital edu-landscape long after the sun has gone down. For us night owls, when the clock strikes 10PM EST, you’ll find us on Twitter over at #edtechafterdark. All are welcome! Our discussions range from our philosophies about EdTech, digital best practices, and simply sharing our stories." --www.edtechafterdark.com
Welcome to #edtechafterdark! I’ll be your host tonight as we chat about branding our schools! Introduce yourself, role in edu, and your favorite brand of snack!
Hello everyone! Tech integration specialist in MN, excited to connect with you all! Favorite treat has to be Reese’s peanut butter cups of course!! #edtechafterdark
Hello everyone! Tech integration specialist in MN, excited to connect with you all! Favorite treat has to be Reese’s peanut butter cups of course!! #edtechafterdark
I'm the Communications #schoolpr Director for Mineral Point Unified #PointerNation in Wisconsin. I'm also the VP of @WSPRA. I was thrilled to have Planters Cheez Balls back from the 80s this summer, but can't find them anymore! #edtechafterdark
Mitch here, STEM facilitator at PVSD in south eastern PA. Excited for ideas, suggestions, and improvements on Branding a class and/school.
#edtechafterdark
I'm the Communications #schoolpr Director for Mineral Point Unified #PointerNation in Wisconsin. I'm also the VP of @WSPRA. I was thrilled to have Planters Cheez Balls back from the 80s this summer, but can't find them anymore! #edtechafterdark
Mitch here, STEM facilitator at PVSD in south eastern PA. Excited for ideas, suggestions, and improvements on Branding a class and/school.
#edtechafterdark
A1 We have to tell our story or else someone else will. T’s need to capitalize on the free press. Let’s show our communities how we are transforming learning! #EdTechAfterDark
A1: all stakeholders desire to know what is happening in the education they support or are a part of. If they don’t receive that info from the school or district, they may look elsewhere, and it may not be accurate but at least it’s something. #edtechafterdark
A1 Seems like “if we don’t tell society what we do, they write their own story” & society has proven that they have very creative imaginations #EdTechAfterDark
Some parents have great experience in their own EDU journey, while others… not so much. Neither of these are factual to your school, yet this is the lens in which many will perceive their child’s journey- good or ill. #edtechafterdark
A1: If the school community isn't kept abreast of the happenings in some form, they will find different ways to hear what they want to hear. #edtechafterdark
A1: Many people form opinions based on the opinions of others. If we, as educators, don't get our schools out there and provide evidence of what we do to the public, the only information out there will be from word of mouth. Could work for our against us. #edtechafterdark
A1: In the absence of understanding or answers, OTHERS control the narrative in an attempt to make sense of something (a very human reaction).
That said, it’s up to all of us to promote and build understanding in all aspects of education. #edtechafterdark
Yes! It’s amazing how many times I am asked about the “3 tchrs who ...” ... my response “tell me about the 14,997 tchrs that are doing good things!” #EdTechAfterDark
A1: People will believe all the bad they hear about you and very little of the good! (In other words, I tell my students, especially my student officers, that they need to tell their own stories, not let others tell them for them. Be the author of your story. #edtechafterdark
A1: If we don't control our own narratives in a positive light, they can be defined for us. Then we'll be in a constant state of catch-up or worse, fighting to prove the established narrative wrong. #edtechafterdark
A1 Got to open the school year with @Joe_Sanfelippo and his message is very clear- we are capable of writing our own narrative about our classrooms and if we don't, our stakeholders will fill in the blanks with their own (generally negative) experiences. #edtechafterdark
A1 - yikes, I’ve seen this play out in such a negative way. We have to be on top of our narrative. It’s too easy for misinformation to spread like wildfire across social media. Damaged relationships on al levels and haunts our work. #edtechafterdark
A2: create opportunities to acknowledge and foster the community. Events, open houses, chances to eat with kids or volunteer at school. Invite the community in and it will build the school community you want to portray. #edtechafterdark
A2: Getting a truly diverse group of stakeholders together last year for our strategic plan update was an amazing experience. We found out we have much more in common than we do different. Now we have a focused vision to build on. #edtechafterdark
A2 I have learned that I can shout it from the rooftops, but when the community can see the students in action it’s a game changer. Focus on the students and how learning is impacting them. Share that out on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Also, amplify student voice whenever possible. We had our first student led high school report to start our school board meeting this month. Going to make it a regular thing. Words mean more when they come from kids. #edtechafterdark
A2: I think at @LCHS_Patriots we invite the conversation to happen. If you model the proper use for social media - then others will follow. We invite all of our student organizations to have a voice. #BeRevolutionary#WeAreLC#EdTechAfterDark
A2 Our district has a Student Advisory Council ... a team of tchrs, staff, students, admin, & parents at each school to create a school improvement plan that sets out to meet needs of all stakeholders, working as a team to support S learning😍 #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Also, amplify student voice whenever possible. We had our first student led high school report to start our school board meeting this month. Going to make it a regular thing. Words mean more when they come from kids. #edtechafterdark
A2: engaging in meaningful conversations with members of our community is important. @NewsLitProject
tries to do this through through our #newslitcamp program which brings teachers into newsrooms to speak with journalists and learn about #newsliteracy#edtechafterdark
A1: At @LCHS_Patriots we made a decision to ALWAYS tell our own story. If we don’t - the negative will… There is always so much negativity in education… We decided to flood our hashtag with the POSITIVE. #BeRevolutionary#WeAreLC#EdTechAfterDark
A2 Transparency. We are doing amazing things in our districts, schools, classrooms. Empower those that facilitate and witness it every day to share some of those amazing moments. They will control the positive message. Leverage Twitter hashtags etc. #edtechafterdark
A2: we need to have a clear vision that has input from all stakeholders first and then communicate it over and over. It needs to become “who we are” #edtechafterdark
Q1: If we aren’t teaching them the facts they will make up their own. Like when I had to break the News that Disney’s Pocahontas wasn’t how it really happened. They socially construct their reality. #edtechafterdark
A1 We have to tell our story or else someone else will. T’s need to capitalize on the free press. Let’s show our communities how we are transforming learning! #EdTechAfterDark
With so many #edtech events that take place during the year...
1. How do you decide what to attend?
2. How do you deal with FOMO?
Pls share your thoughts for @HouseofEdTech by calling (732) 903-4869
#edtechafterdark
A2: Seems simple, but foster a culture of community in your school brand. Community means inviting discussions about initiatives. Highlight voices other than your own. Listen as must as you curate. #edtechafterdark
A2: I think that would depend on what your vision is..Who are the key players in your school and who is best suited for said vision. In some situations it might be a class President in other situations it might be the band director. You gotta know your culture. #edtechafterdark
We need to tell our story where the other stories are being told. Districts need to be on social media to connect with parents, students and community members, in addition to all other forms of communication #EdTechAfterDark
A2: By doing exactly that—inviting them! Encourage participation, ask people to join. Be sure any organization you’re a part of has a presence, and giving students autonomy to post on behalf of organizations (with guidelines/parameters). #edtechafterdark
A2: Our district is active on many soc. media platforms. Ts/admin have active professional social media accounts. I created an instagram acct., PVSTEMLab https://t.co/3W1Ql9bmvM to show our class and news to parents. They luv to see their kids doing cool things! #edtechafterdark
Absolutely - students need to be given autonomy to post, it encourages them to take ownership of our school and what we are doing every day! #EdTechAfterDark
A2: By doing exactly that—inviting them! Encourage participation, ask people to join. Be sure any organization you’re a part of has a presence, and giving students autonomy to post on behalf of organizations (with guidelines/parameters). #edtechafterdark
A2 - User Generated Content works well to have the community be involved in the messsging. Allow their experiences to tell the stories of your vision and message #edtechafterdark
Yes & let’s shout positive not joke or harp on negative ... speak kindly about strengths of our teachers & work confidently on the areas we can improve ... I learned long time ago not to even jovial suggest a person is “not working hard” ... shine the sparkle! #EdTechAfterDark
A2 Transparency. We are doing amazing things in our districts, schools, classrooms. Empower those that facilitate and witness it every day to share some of those amazing moments. They will control the positive message. Leverage Twitter hashtags etc. #edtechafterdark
Exactly @swordsed Every time I post to our district FB page, it blows up with comments and likes - I know that's where our parents are and they love to get a peek inside their child's day. #EdTechAfterDark
A2: Our district is active on many soc. media platforms. Ts/admin have active professional social media accounts. I created an instagram acct., PVSTEMLab https://t.co/3W1Ql9bmvM to show our class and news to parents. They luv to see their kids doing cool things! #edtechafterdark
A3: Invite the community in for different events. Show off what teachers and students are doing. Different art fairs, academic fairs, robotics etc etc. #edtechafterdark
A3: When you're dealing with people's kids, everything we communicate should revolve around trust. After all, they're trusting us with their most prized possession. Show students are happy, safe, and learning. #edtechafterdark
A3: Through genuine and vocal support of teachers and they work they do in their classrooms. Through honest conversations and a willingness to try again when something does not work. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: transparency. Most teachers parents and students don’t expect perfection but they don’t want to see a magic show either they want to be in the loop. #edtechafterdark
A3 - Content Marketing... share valuable content from experts in your district (teachers). Studies show that 71% of millennial parents get their parenting info from mommy blogs and social media. Why not have your own district parenting blog #edtechafterdark
A3: Make your communication a two-way street. Invite Parents to share their thoughts, students to share their pride, and do not dismiss valid concerns because they are hard/uncomfortable to address. #edtechafterdark
Absolutely! Even while we as educators work to improve professionally and support our Ss in their growth, we can find many, many opportunities to celebrate our achievements. Make sure you do so, and often! #EdTechAfterDark
A3: I think it’s all about the content and messaging that a campus conveys CONSISTENTLY. If you TRULY demonstrate that you love and care for ALL of the stakeholders… the trust is there. The value comes with the message itself. #EdTechAfterDark (1/2)
A4: I'm jumping on board with all who say transparency. Transparency reflects trust - trust in students, coworkers, administrators, our general school community. With tech, our classroom walls come down. We're doing great things and have nothing to hide! #edtechafterdark
That's a great point! I've posted a few Common Sense Media articles on our FB page and they were really well received, I agree that is the content parents are interested in and I think there's added value when it comes from the district. #EdTechAfterDark
I don’t think trust can be communicated. It has to be earned by consistently doing whatever it takes for kids. This is how we demonstrate our value and tell our story.
A3 we need to communicate more, ask for feedback more often, and be sure to examine our commutation techniques to ensure parents are getting the messages we are sending. #EdTechAfterDark
A3: We can only go by the speed of trust between the District and its community. Transparency, honesty, and communication of a vision are critical. Also, don’t be afraid of criticism in what your doing if what you are doing is worth defending. #edtechafterdark
A3: Schools tend to value what their admin values. We need to educate our administrators and have them model what is going in at our schools. In turn, teachers will take it to the classroom level and model and value what they and others around them are doing. #EdTechAfterDark
A3 Parents and other stakeholders place value in EVERY COMMUNICATION a district, school, and its teachers make. Districts can demonstrate trust in Ts by empowering them to post on SM. Ts demonstrate value by simply sharing the awesome stuff their Ss already do! #edtechafterdark
I don’t think trust can be communicated. It has to be earned by consistently doing whatever it takes for kids. This is how we demonstrate our value and tell our story.
Great thoughts! Make incentives to show up as well. Some districts have a hard time getting involvement. Being parents may not be enough incentive to be involved in school for some. Not saying out of spite- We don’t know all of their story. #edtechafterdark
A4: For me “brand” is the marketable equation of your culture. What makes your campus unique? Why should a kid be proud to be a member of your school #edtechafterdark
A4: To me, brand is what you stand for--your values. Might be oversimplifying it, but it annoys me when people think it's all about a logo. It's about what your stakeholders think of when they think of your school. #edtechafterdark
A4 - Simply - it's who we are, what are the common values we expect to see throughout our schools and classrooms. And it's also the PR business of graphic design and web color. I know have our orange color memorized I've typed it in so many times :-D #EdTechAfterDark
A4: Branding is HUGE for @LCHS_Patriots… Take a look at our timeline. We convey EVERYTHING there is to know about our campus in MANY different YET CONSISTENT ways. Branding is a clear and concise message. Take a look. #BeRevolutionary#WeAreLC#EdTechAfterDark
A4: the image that a name represents. What image does your school name represent? Your district? It is important to understand that whether you foster that brand name or not, it will continue to represent you to the stakeholders seeking you out. #edtechafterdark
A4: Brand is your vision, your direction, and your perception. Cool slogans are nice, but you will be known by the brand you sell to others about your school. #alwaysclosing#edtechafterdark
A4 Branding helps keep people focused on your character - we all have a social media brand - what we post can determine who people think we are #EdTechAfterDark
I like this - we are providing an experience. A conversation we continue to circle back to is how do we insure all of our students have the same or similar experiences in their 12 years? Up to 11 sections of each grade provides for many different experiences! #EdTechAfterDark
A4: Brand = Identity
It’s who we are, what we stand for, how we are perceived. It’s important because it is the cornerstone of a school’s culture AND the bedrock of public perception of a school. #edtechafterdark
A4: To me, brand is what you stand for--your values. Might be oversimplifying it, but it annoys me when people think it's all about a logo. It's about what your stakeholders think of when they think of your school. #edtechafterdark
#edtechafterdark
A3 The message should come from a genuine place. You can tell what's authentic and what's just "branding."
sorry Chappel Billings Arlington, TX
just dropped in.
I don’t think trust can be communicated. It has to be earned by consistently doing whatever it takes for kids. This is how we demonstrate our value and tell our story.
A4 Schools understand the concept of a brand - ask who your school mascot is or why a S values their varsity jacket to find out. Ts and As need to turnkey that school/brand pride that Ss already have owned and unify their message as often as possible! #edtechafterdark
A4: To me, "brand" is synonymous to image. Does your school's social media page reflect the image that you want to portray to others? Are the actions of those in the school supporting that image, so the image put forth is genuine and not fabricated? #edtechafterdark
I agree ... @BrandonHSEagles is choosing to #SoartoGreatness in every communique including phone calls to announcements... we all send the same message hoping we are all living and promoting that message through our lesson plans & practices #EdTechAfterDark
I will say tho, some of the biggest things I learned about design is that consistency in that brand marketing can be crucial. Apple is known for minimalist design. It is in every product they sell, every ad/post/site they create. Stakeholders embrace the brand. #edtechafterdark
A4: To me, "brand" is synonymous to image. Does your school's social media page reflect the image that you want to portray to others? Are the actions of those in the school supporting that image, so the image put forth is genuine and not fabricated? #edtechafterdark
A5: Be more intentional about what is posted, making sure all buildings are represented and that our social media accounts represent our #PrincetonParadigm#EdTechAfterDark
A5: Some have talked about this already, but get a hashtag that invokes emotion for your stakeholders. We grabbed on to #PointerNation several years ago--now we've got car decals, yard signs, etc...most recently, it was added to our press box at our new stadium. #edtechafterdark
A5: start a #StudentStory hashtag and post a student quote and picture once a day. Let our students start representing our school and brand. #edtechafterdark
A5: I’m making it my mission to be on Snapchat much more. Kids ask me to do stories after class answer questions that are off topic but they want to know so I’m planning on doing a spin off of Bill Maher’s Overtime this next six weeks. #edtechafterdark
A5 We need a unified, updated, board approved brand - we already have it by and large: district hashtag, colors, panther paw, etc. A single brand (logo/graphic/slogan/etc/etc/etc) approved the the BOE would amplify our communications as a district. #edtechafterdark
A5 I like what our Student Government is doing on campus with their professional & positive messages on posters ... would like to see those plastered on classroom walls as well as our social media sites (along with our hashtag and goal #soaringtogreatness#EdTechAfterDark
A5- Many teachers in our district have utilized BLOOMZ, instagram, and youtube to post events of their school to the community. Frequency is important to creating a following. I am going to try to post daily to my instagram acct. on what we do in PVSTEMLab #edtechafterdark
A5- Recruit parent and community ambassadors to help spread your message and brand experiences. They are trusted more than the district itself #edtechafterdark
A5: I can be more consistent in maintaining brand integrity. Setting more clear guidelines for student officers that help them stay on brand across all social media platforms. #EdTechAfterDark
Yes ... and our community sees professional brands all over the place ... if we don’t stand up to that level, we may not appear as valuable ... we are tasked with providing best so that we can represent #EdTechAfterDark
Yes ... and our community sees professional brands all over the place ... if we don’t stand up to that level, we may not appear as valuable ... we are tasked with providing best so that we can represent #EdTechAfterDark
Yes ... and our community sees professional brands all over the place ... if we don’t stand up to that level, we may not appear as valuable ... we are tasked with providing best so that we can represent #EdTechAfterDark
Yes ... and our community sees professional brands all over the place ... if we don’t stand up to that level, we may not appear as valuable ... we are tasked with providing best so that we can represent #EdTechAfterDark
A5: The use of graphics is crucial. I make it appoint to not follow anyone who hasn't set their Twitter profile pic or doesn't have a banner on their profile. These things are what the consumer sees first. Also, creating graphics using tools like @Canva! #edtechafterdark
A6: I LOVE @Canva and use it for all of my social media graphics, blog posts, and podcasts art. This free tool will take your social media game to the next level. #edtechafterdark
Absolutely. At the same time my district invested in a #schoolpr person, our open enrollment trend shifted dramatically. Parents surveyed said #2 reason to open enroll in was better communication than their old district. #edtechafterdark
Yes ... and our community sees professional brands all over the place ... if we don’t stand up to that level, we may not appear as valuable ... we are tasked with providing best so that we can represent #EdTechAfterDark
A6- Know Your Audience. Create audience personas of the people that make up your district. What do they like? What are their problems? What platforms are they on? #edtechafterdark
A6 While it is more than just logo, branding can start with attention to details ... fonts, sizes, colors ... every letter, email, note stays true to details - indentations, bullet points. I told my sts they deserve excellent handouts b/c they do. #EdTechAfterDark
Q6: Give it to someone who knows what they are doing. We are lucky our guy is a marketer so he knows what should be done overall but if not then someone why KNOWS the platform. If it’s twitter then a twitter savvy person who navigates the landscape well. #edtechafterdark
A6: I'll also through @canva into the ring. I use it often and always get compliments and how it looks. Having consistent font, images and color for your district makes a huge difference. #EdTechAfterDark
A6: A former colleague of mine @JeremyDarlow wrote the “book” on this. I use his words for why marketing and branding works... check out his book “Brands Win Championships” it’s right beside me right now. Strong fundamentals. #EdTechAfterDark#WeAreLC
A6: I also really enjoyed the book Presentation Zen Design that I read for a tech integration grad course. Great book that provide important insights on presentations and branding. Changed the way I create and deliver presentations. #EdTechAfterDarkhttps://t.co/aQJIFKFuRC
A6: check out the #schoolpr hashtag and #k12prchat Everyone is responsible for school communication, and you can learn from some of the experts across the nation. #edtechafterdark
A6 Settle on a message and get everyone you know to communicate about it - #branding. Do that in education, on FB/Twitter/Instagram etc. #branding your district. Empower your teachers, students, admins, parents, and communities to use the #hashtag = #transparency#edtechafterdark
A6 - create a hashtag for your district that works for the students, staff AND community. Also, check it's not already being used. We've had to get creative being in Princeton MN :) #EdTechAfterDark
Fantastic chat tonight, thanks @danvkoch for moderating and for the great learning and feedback from everyone. I've improved my own brand by participating- thank you! #edtechafterdark
