Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Oh My!

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Oh My!

Is Facebook the place to learn about the new and upcoming events in our libraries? Let’s find out…

Facebook has been around for at least 15 years and many adults are comfortable with it as a social media outlet to gain information about the events going on around them and in their child’s school. More recently I have found that we don’t see students on Facebook much anymore. It may be that they have moved on to media that is more appealing and caters to the need for instant gratification. Facebook requires a bit of time and seems to scream “old hat” to younger patrons. This doesn’t mean schools and libraries shouldn’t have a Facebook page. Parents and community are part of our library patronage and Facebook keeps those patrons happy with up to date activities and events.

 In searching Facebook, I found that there are libraries posting about the events going on in their community. Libraries such as…

Buda Elementary Library, Buda, TX https://www.facebook.com/Buda-Elementary-Library-283296618447928/ Buda Elementary Library has a feed full of students with books and activities that have happened but not recently. So it seems they may not have found the use of Facebook as a benefit. I did like that they have events on the page as well as information to contact them if needed. I know the community of Buda so to see that the posts had few likes and shares was kind of disheartening. I did like that their page had related pages in case more information was needed by the patron within there district.

Hutto ISD Elementary Libraries, Hutto, TX https://www.facebook.com/pg/huttoisdelementarylibrary/community/?ref=page_internal  This feed is a different take on the school library page. The librarians within the district of Hutto have created a shared Facebook page to share all the events from each library. I have to admit I love this idea and hope to get my fellow district librarians on board with this idea. Their feed is full of activities and videos shared by everyone. There is a good flow of information and a very large amount of followers. I think because they have all the libraries within the district posting there is hardly a lull in posts. This way patrons can always expect something new at least every week keeping Hutto ISD libraries current on patrons feeds.

Range Elementary Library, Mesquite, TX https://www.facebook.com/RangeLibrary/ Range Elementary library has a very active posting feed and with 313 followers. Run by Elizabeth Warrick the librarian and boy she does a good job of exemplifying how much a librarian does in a day. Elizabeth posts about her maker space activities as well as her lessons and events in her library.  She is letting her community know what’s happening in her library daily and sometimes hourly. Her feed offers tons of ideas any new librarian would appreciate learning from.

Check out my School's Facebook page.You get my library updates through the school site.

 Facebook also offers some awesome groups for librarians to join. These pages are followed by librarians from all over the world and their followers SHARE all the time. I have learned so much from so many librarians in just one year of being part of these two groups.

Future Ready Librarians https://www.facebook.com/groups/futurereadylibrarians/

 

Learning Librarians 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LearningLibrarians/

 Future Ready Librarians and Learning Librarians are my top picks for information, ideas, and advice on anything library-related. I find myself searching these two Facebook pages often to see if anyone has already answered or had the information I needed. I know I always gain tons of new ideas for implementation in my library and it’s a must for a librarian that wants to grow in their field.

How about Twitter?

Twitter can be a great way to network as well as learn from others. Right now teachers are fighting a battle in classrooms to get students to put away their cell phones. Phones are constantly in hand and students are constantly logged on. To what? How about Twitter. Students want information fast and Twitter gives it to them. School districts like mine are now asking their teachers to post updates and happenings in their classrooms or school to Twitter because they see the networking and learning capabilities not only for their students but for their employees. 

Twitter has become the most current place to find new ideas for implementation in our classrooms and libraries from experts in our field and it is a wonderful thing. Speaking of new ideas, here are a few I follow.

Big names in Educational Technology to follow on Twitter

Kathy Shrock

Twitter handle: @kathySchrock

                           

Who is Kathy Schrock?

Kathy Schrock is an educational technology influencer. She has held a variety of positions in the educational technology field including school, public and museum librarian. She was also a district director of technology and is a Google Certified Innovator. She has multiple webpages she writes and monitors offering tons of information on technology and all things related. Her ed tech sites include: KathySchrock.net, schrockguide.net, ipads4teaching.net, and blog.kathyschrock.net

Recent Tweets by @KathySchrock

Why I follow @KathySchrock

I find her opinions to be very honest about new technology and helpful. She gives you new ideas and even helps build on things you are familiar with. You can tell within her Twitter posts that she has not forgotten her days in the library because she shares everything. What she creates she puts out into the world without cost. She gives her opinion honestly so that her fellow educators can make a better evaluation of a product or idea before they choose to implement it. Her ideas are future-forward and I strive to implement any within my library.

Linda W Braun

Twitter handle: @lbraun2000

Who is Linda W Braun?

Linda W. Braun writes many articles for American Libraries magazines, was a librarian and was the YALSA vice president. She is a tech columnist for Voices of Youth Advocates an author and adjunct professor at Simmons College. She is an education consultant and management coordinator at LEO): Librarians & Educators Online. 

Recent Tweets by @lbraun2000

Why I follow @lbraun2000

In following Linda Braun I found that she retweets almost all the time and shares information and research others have gathered to make you as an educator think. She makes you wonder about the new and think about how to better yourself and your students in the library.

Alan November

Twitter handle: @globalearner

Who is Alan November?

Alan November was named one of the nations’ top fifteen influential thinker of the decade by Technology and Learning magazine. An international leader in education technology. He works to improve the quality of education through tech.

Recent Tweets by @globalearner

Why I follow @globalearner

He inspires his followers to think critically about how to implement anything with their students. He offers quotes that make you pause and reflect and I have found his posts get many responses from his followers. Most of his followers being librarians or educators. I found he is not a frequent (daily) Twitter poster but when @globalearner does post you find yourself taking the time to read what he has to offer.

Gwyneth Jones

Twitter handle: @gwynethjones

Who is Gwyneth Jones?

She is a current teacher-librarian at a middle school in Maryland. She is a Blogger, Tweeter and international keynote. She is known as The Daring Librarian sharing her journey in the teacher-librarian world. In 2011 she was named an innovator and one of 50 international Movers & Shakers by Library Journal Magazine.

Recent tweets by @gwynethjones

Why I follow @gwynethjones

I found that I aspire to use social media as she does to promote her library and all things related. She advocates for her library and others. She imparts new ideas that can be used in your library because she is a librarian and she does it herself. She offers new tech and ways to reach our students and teachers and her feed makes me happy. The Daring Librarian makes me want to get into the library and come up with more ideas for my students.

Jim Lerman

Twitter handle: @jimlerman

Who is Jim Lerman?

A certified Google Innovator dedicated to equity and enhanced life trajectories for low income, urban students and the teachers that teach them. An author writing books about effective internet use and is a presenter at many national conferences. Writes the blog Scrivener’s Trappings

Recent tweets by @jimlerman

Why I follow @jimlerman

He is really cool. I find that when I scroll through Jim Lerner’s twitter feed I think about my dad. I think because my dad was always into learning about cool new things and anything science-related topped his interest. I am not saying there is a ton of science-related topics in his feed but it’s just all neat stuff. Stuff that makes you think a little bit more about how you teach. He shares just enough in his tweets to have you reading all his blog posts for an hour. Hardly anyone comments on his tweets or even shares them but what you want to read more from him.

Check out my Twitter

Have you heard about a thing called Instagram?

Instagram is an app that allows people to share pics and videos for followers to see. Followers can view, comment and like the shared content. Hardly any text is given unless added in the captions this social media outlet is really only using images to share peoples stories.

Although it was first started as a social media outlet Instagram can now be used in the classroom as an instructional tool to engage their students and even parents.

Ways to use Instagram:

●     You can find cool new ideas to just by following popular teacher hashtags like #teachersofinstagram

●     Show off your student’s work. Not as hard to get them to do the work if they get to post it to a worldwide media outlet.

●     Your parents would love it and you will look back on them often if you posted to capture events and memories of the goings-on in your classroom.

●     Put your lessons into Instagram. What if your book characters had an Instagram feed? Bibliographies take on a whole new dynamic if the person had a student-created Instagram account.

●     You can encourage discussion and collaboration amongst your students when helping with homework. Offer mini-tutorials and reminders to keep them on track.

This year will be my first foray into the implementation of Instagram in my social media world. I have been a Facebook user since the day when it was only available to college students and I have within the past few years become a Twitter user. I look forward to my future Instagram journey because I have honestly learned so much with Facebook and Twitter that adding another outlet could not hurt.

Check out my Instagram

Reference:

44842, 10, & 390. (2018, May 6). How to Use Instagram in the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.thetechedvocate.org/use-instagram-classroom/

A Guide to Using Instagram in the Classroom. (2018, April 6). Retrieved from https://theartofeducation.edu/2018/04/09/a-guide-to-using-instagram-in-the-classroom/

Practical, Inspiring, Humorous - Alan November - keynote speaker. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://novemberlearning.com/educational-services/educational-consultants/alan-november/

Who is Linda W Braun (n.d.). Retrieved from https://g.co/kgs/CCpt2T