Building Community Connections through Tech Savvy Communications

Building Community Connections through Tech Savvy CommunicationsRachel HicksAssistant Director of Media Relations/Public AffairsMinneapolis Public Schools4 February 2011

Technology Trends in School Communications• Real-time communication• Two-way engagement

through social media• Use of video to share

information• Use of K-12 school phone

apps

Technology Trends in School Communications

School communications must adapt to the new generations of students, parents and community members.

Real-time Communication

Electronic newsletters, School Messenger, SMS Text messages, parent forums, web publications, e-mail distribution lists for internal and external audiences….even apps for K-12 schools and universities.

• Crisis situations• Facts are a form of rumor control• Drives engagement and advocacy

Schools and Social Media• 20 percent of school districts

report Facebook use.• 21 percent of school districts

report Twitter use.• 28 percent of school districts

report blog use.

AASA national survey, 2009

Free Agents

Coverage is no longer limited to the traditional media• Blogs• Social media• Citizen journalism• Content aggregators

What’s the Point?

The value of these tech trends to the school community:• Inform• Engage• Promote