fernt Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 While developing our new school website, I'm trying to make a case for us to start using Twitter as a way of communicating with both parents and pupils as well as a marketing tool (being an independent school) by boosting our web presence. I think the powers that be would be more comfortable with the idea if they knew of other schools (both independent and state sector) who used Twitter. So, do any of you use or know of any schools that do so, and what specifically is it being used for? Thanks in advance.
DanW Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 While developing our new school website, I'm trying to make a case for us to start using Twitter as a way of communicating with both parents and pupils as well as a marketing tool (being an independent school) by boosting our web presence. I think the powers that be would be more comfortable with the idea if they knew of other schools (both independent and state sector) who used Twitter. So, do any of you use or know of any schools that do so, and what specifically is it being used for? Thanks in advance. i'm currently in the process of doing the same thing Bootham School (BoothamSchool) on Twitter
tomdawson Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 Our head used twitter to let people know if the school was open or closed after the bad weather in jan/feb. Very good. Gerard MacMahon (mrmacmahon) on Twitter
mossj Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 We don't use twitter but we do you use wordpress Ashlawn School And Science College - Blogs
Diello Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 We're seriously considering implementing it next term.
srochford Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 We use twitter - Imperial College We're also on iTunes (just one example!) and YouTube
SimpleSi Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 I wanted to use Twitter as a feed for our ChickCam blog but although it works on the outside, its blocked by LEA in schools. It would have made updates a lot easier than multiple people trying to update one joomla article! I asked for our a feed (Euxton CE (EuxtonCEPrimary) on Twitter) that I setup to be unblocked but never received an answer regards Simon
webman Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 While I think it could be used as a powerful communication tool; I don't think any of our students or parents use or even know what Twitter is so would be pointless here.
mossj Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 While I think it could be used as a powerful communication tool; I don't think any of our students or parents use or even know what Twitter is so would be pointless here. does twitter not export rss? because the way i use staff blogs (or will be using) is to pull the rss and feed it to relavent sections on my joomla site.
webman Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 does twitter not export rss? because the way i use staff blogs (or will be using) is to pull the rss and feed it to relavent sections on my joomla site. Yeah it uses/supports RSS.
SimpleSi Posted April 1, 2009 Posted April 1, 2009 While I think it could be used as a powerful communication tool; I don't think any of our students or parents use or even know what Twitter is so would be pointless here. Do it and educate them Same thing was said when email/fax/telephone/post/stone tablets were invented Just start doing it in parallel with normal communications and see what happens - if your ISP/LEA/RBC allows it regards Simon
beeswax Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 We don't use twitter but we do you use wordpress Ashlawn School And Science College - Blogs That's a great use of blogs. Very inspiring, particularly liked the use of different Wordpress themes to highlight different areas of the curriculum. How difficult was it to get the staff blogging?
mattx Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 While developing our new school website, I'm trying to make a case for us to start using Twitter as a way of communicating with both parents and pupils as well as a marketing tool (being an independent school) by boosting our web presence. I think the powers that be would be more comfortable with the idea if they knew of other schools (both independent and state sector) who used Twitter. So, do any of you use or know of any schools that do so, and what specifically is it being used for? Thanks in advance. What if the parent has no access to a computer ? What if they want to speak to a real person ? What’s wrong with face to face communication? [it’s been going on for years & is free] Can you portray emphasis on phrases / words / situations / facial expressions etc on twitter ? Yet again this shows [ and I'm not having a personal dig at you btw !! ] the over emphasis on IT & computers in schools. Keep it simple and use a format the majority of people can relate to - a simple news letter or actually talking to a real person.
JJonas Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 I was thinking about using Twitter as an emergency messaging service for my school but then they withdrew UK txt support. I see now that vodaphone are relaying tweets again so it may be back on. Just got to sort out the fact that Twitter is blocked by county.
fernt Posted April 2, 2009 Author Posted April 2, 2009 What if the parent has no access to a computer ? What if they want to speak to a real person ? What’s wrong with face to face communication? [it’s been going on for years & is free] Can you portray emphasis on phrases / words / situations / facial expressions etc on twitter ? Yet again this shows [ and I'm not having a personal dig at you btw !! ] the over emphasis on IT & computers in schools. Keep it simple and use a format the majority of people can relate to - a simple news letter or actually talking to a real person. It'd just be another means of communication, and not a replacement for another. There's no way we'd ever consider using it to replace even email communication. As well as the numerous restrictions that Twitter has compared to an email (characters, the fact that you'd have to be registered in order to enter into correspondence), there's the privacy issue - a lot of things we'd send by email, letter or through a phone call would simply not be suitable for all to see on Twitter. But I think it could be valuable to us. The bad weather updates is an obvious advantage, while club cancellations, sports fixture changes, postponements and results, travel information and just general reminders would all be useful to tweet about. Thanks for all of the responses. There's some really interesting ideas floating about.
SimpleSi Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 (edited) Keep it simple and use a format the majority of people can relate to - a simple news letter or actually talking to a real person. These are normally the first form of communication with parents/pupils but its sometimes not practical to send an extra newsletter out or take a megaphone to the gates and announce that footballs cancelled tonight Thats where email/txt/blog/RSS/twittering can help. Also, its a good backup for pupil post failure regards Simon Edited April 2, 2009 by SimpleSi
GreenSchoolsOnline Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 We've enabled Twitter for a school in south London - Eltham College. The Head updates his Twitter feed every day, with the message posted to the front page of the website. With the CMS, he can update the home page any way, but he liked the idea of Twitter and finding different ways to engage the community. The ability to post from his phone is a bonus. We used JQuery to break down the elements of the Twitter feed and present it in the way we wanted, so it doesn't look like an obvious Twitter feed, and doesn't use the Flash plugin (which has obvious accessibility and SEO issues).
TechMonkey Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 What if the parent has no access to a computer ? What if they want to speak to a real person ? What’s wrong with face to face communication? [it’s been going on for years & is free] Can you portray emphasis on phrases / words / situations / facial expressions etc on twitter ? Yet again this shows [ and I'm not having a personal dig at you btw !! ] the over emphasis on IT & computers in schools. Keep it simple and use a format the majority of people can relate to - a simple news letter or actually talking to a real person. Though what about the flip side? What if a parent can't get into the school? Doesn't like using the phone for simple questions. Is house bound? As an added bit of communication that can fill a gap I think it is good and will look into this. No it isn't a full solution but it is another avenue to use and if parents pick up on it and use it all the better.
mattx Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 Though what about the flip side? What if a parent can't get into the school? Doesn't like using the phone for simple questions. Is house bound? As an added bit of communication that can fill a gap I think it is good and will look into this. No it isn't a full solution but it is another avenue to use and if parents pick up on it and use it all the better. It does not fill a gap at all, in fact it creates yet another gap where people tend to communicate via a screen or through a device which stops the normal day to say communication of using one's own mouth & face. A full face one to one conversation is much better than hiding behind a keyboard and monitor in which more and more people do these days.
webman Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 It does not fill a gap at all, in fact it creates yet another gap where people tend to communicate via a screen or through a device which stops the normal day to say communication of using one's own mouth & face. A full face one to one conversation is much better than hiding behind a keyboard and monitor in which more and more people do these days. Just stick to your chalk & slate then
mattx Posted April 2, 2009 Posted April 2, 2009 Just stick to your chalk & slate then Too right !! A good teacher [ thank god I am not a teacher !! ] won't need a fancy computer, IWB, fancy 'educational software' and whizz bang graphics to hold a pupil's attention. If they do, then they shouldn't be teaching. Name 2 bits of 'educational software' that have really influenced you, now name 2 teachers who have..... The more I think about computers in schools, the more I am against them - Clifford Stoll has a lot to answer for !!!
fernt Posted May 5, 2009 Author Posted May 5, 2009 While developing our new school website, I'm trying to make a case for us to start using Twitter as a way of communicating with both parents and pupils as well as a marketing tool (being an independent school) by boosting our web presence. I think the powers that be would be more comfortable with the idea if they knew of other schools (both independent and state sector) who used Twitter. Thanks for all of your help. The reaction was very positive, with the only opposition coming from someone who was worried that if the account details were given to a number of members of staff (as is the plan), then we would somehow want to 'proof' tweets before they are sent as the spelling and grammar of some leaves a lot to be desired - a very valid point. Looks like we'll be using it in conjunction with our new website though, which is great news.
burgemaster Posted May 19, 2009 Posted May 19, 2009 "if the account details were given to a number of members of staff (as is the plan), then we would somehow want to 'proof' tweets before they are sent as the spelling and grammar of some leaves a lot to be desired - a very valid point." Exactly - the staff cant be trusted in their spellin` and the tweet content. What they are sending out could not only be deemed incorrect but could also not correctly portray the image disired by the school. I liked the idea of the "Headmasters daily tweet", but I doubt our head would find the time, but i may be wrong. To all the schools that have unblocked "tweeting" internally, do you not have a huge problem of students tweeting and reading tweets other than the intended school tweet? While I can see its benefits, is it not just unblocking another social networking site?
WithoutMotive Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 I was thinking about doing this before this half term and have handed it over to the head. The feed would be on our website which means instant communication. I think the possibilities at school events would be brilliant. Live "tweets" as things happen at football or music events. Even with photographs to Twitpic. When the event is over, the tweets could be consolidated into an accurate blog about the event. I just hope she says yes, now.
GrumbleDook Posted May 26, 2009 Posted May 26, 2009 Too right !! A good teacher [ thank god I am not a teacher !! ] won't need a fancy computer, IWB, fancy 'educational software' and whizz bang graphics to hold a pupil's attention. If they do, then they shouldn't be teaching. Name 2 bits of 'educational software' that have really influenced you, now name 2 teachers who have..... The more I think about computers in schools, the more I am against them - Clifford Stoll has a lot to answer for !!! You are Phil Beadle and I claim my five pounds!
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