Reflection # 2 text book "Why Social Media Matters, School Communication in the Digital Age"

The authors' purpose  of this book as stated in the introduction of the book were: explore the communication landscape in which school are operating, explore the process of how to plan and create an online platform, and look at the contents that leaders are communicating. "This book contains how-to instructions, best practices, practical suggestions, and some cautionary tales about using social media to support the communication efforts in your school or district" (Pg. 3) The essence of the book is that is provides a easy and practical approach of "how" to use the digital tools to enhance communication with the community. Social media is described as, "a vision of communication between school and community that empowers school leaders to meet the demands of today's parents, staff members, neighbors, and community leaders." (Pg. 123)

These are some topics that I found very helpful that can be used for professional development:

1. Five ways to reconnect with stakeholders in the 21st century. Pg. 38
2. Communication strategies with solids results: listen first, employees must be your first costumers, segment your audience (each group will want different information and support), costumer service goes a long way, repeat the important message, give yourself permission to fail, and use all the tools at your disposal. Pg. 41-43
3. Chapter 4 Planning your debut and creating an online platform. Looks at the school website as the "home" base of information and others social media tools as outpost. These outpost are Twitter, Facebook, and Blogs. I am sure that these outpost will eventually change in the future.
4. Chapter 5 Facebook 101, Chapter 6 Twitter 101, and Chapter 7 Blogging 101, can be combined or used as stand along items.
I was grappling with the actual implementation of social medial and in these three chapters I was able to find very specific guide lines.

I need to continue to learn and exploring the language of social media. I need to self reflect and continually ask my self: Which of all these communication choices is the ones (or ones) that will best serve our stakeholders? Which will get the job done? As stated in the text, "Communication is no longer about you; its' about your costumer."