Communicating in the digital age - a guide for educators

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COMMUNICATINGIN THE DIGITAL AGE

A Guide for Educators

By

Dr Helen DixonInformation Services

Queen’s University Belfast

@HelenDixon10

EVERYTHING IN EDUCATION

REVOLVES AROUND COMMUNICATION

@HelenDixon10

How has technology changed communication?

@HelenDixon10

INTRODUCING THE EDUCATOR 3.0

Profiles on website or social media

Up-to-date online presence

Communicates effectively online

Confident technology user

Encourages digital literacy and citizenship

Teaches digital skills by example

Faster communication means it is important to take our time crafting our message

@HelenDixon10

I begin already to weigh my words and sentences more than I did…

Jane Austen

65% of adults in NI have used Facebook

13% have posted

something they regret

Source: Ofcom Survey

August 2015

@H

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on1

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EMAIL AND TEXT MESSAGES ARE NOT SIMILAR

For formal communications,

emails are best - unless the

message is urgent or if the

recipient may not be able

to access their email

account

An informal tone may be

acceptable for text

messages but is often not

appropriate for emails

@HelenDixon10

EMAIL ETIQUETTE

• E.g. “Revised date for team meeting”Include a clear subject

line

• “Dear Professor Austen” or “Dear Jane”

• Avoid “Hey” or “Hiya”

Use professional salutations

• Don’t rely on spellcheck and beware of autocorrect!Proofread your

message carefully

• Add email address last and double-check that it is correct

• Use “Reply to all” with care!

Make sure you have selected the right

recipient

WISDOM IS BETTER THAN WIT – JANE AUSTEN

Humour often does not translate well online!

@HelenDixon10

An email may be forwarded to others or disclosed in response to a

request under the Freedom of Information or Data Protection Acts!

Don’t put

anything in

an email

unless you

are happy

for the rest

of the world

to read it!

@HelenDixon10

ONE HALF OF THE WORLDCANNOT UNDERSTAND

THE PLEASURES OF THE OTHER

@HelenDixon10

Jane Austen

(Emma 1815)

Like?

Like it or not, social

media is one of the most

important methods of

communication available

today

A student tells you that

they have posted

something online that

they regret.

What do you do?

@H

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By age 10,

59% of

children

have used

a social

network

http://www.knowthenet.org.u

k/articles/kids-not-

equipped-coming-digital-

age-nine

@H

ele

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ixon1

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Age 9

• Access YouTube

• Use a mobile or laptop

Age 10

• Start using internet slang e.g. YOLO

• Use instant messaging

Age 11

• Share an image or video of themselves

• Post a nasty comment

• Set up a fake profile

Age 12

• Try Twitter and WhatsApp

• Message someone online that they haven’t met in real life

Age 13

• Use Snapchat and Ask.fm

• Try sexting

A CHILD’S SOCIAL MEDIA DEVELOPMENT

http://www.knowthenet.org.uk/articles/kids-not-equipped-coming-digital-age-nine

@H

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We must learn before we can teach

A social media code for parents and educators

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN HELP YOU

Find out about the latest developments in education

Network with other professionals

Learn new skills

Enhance your professional reputation

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN ALSO

Waste your valuable time

Blur professional and personal boundaries

Expose your personal life to scrutiny

Damage your career prospects

MAKE SOCIAL MEDIA WORK FOR YOU

Set up a profile

Follow other professionals

Listen and learn

Comment and curate

Share your own content

@HelenDixon10

LinkedIn or left out?

DIGITAL PROFESSIONALISM• about the impact on you, your institution

and othersTHINK

• sharing, make sure that the information is correct and that you have permissionBEFORE

• are responsible for anything you publish onlineYOU

• only content that will add value and enhance your reputationPOST

@HelenDixon10

The Golden Rule -

If it’s online, it’s NOT private!

@HelenDixon10

Sense &

Sensibility

1811

@HelenDixon10

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