Episode Details

In Tim Elmore’s book Generation IY, he shares data from his 2015 research showing the following trends among youth.

• 75 percent post on Facebook
• 73 percent shop online
• 49 percent Tweet
• 43 percent read an e-book

He also quotes a 2010 Kaiser Family Foundation Report that “kids between eight and eighteen are spending seven-and-a-half hours each day in front of a screen,” and a Nieslen Company survey reports that the “typical U.S. teen mobile subscriber sends or receives an average of 1, 742 texts per month” (Elmore).

It is easy to see how many of our youth are communicating. And in 2018, these trends have obviously increased depending on what social media platform you discuss. Although nothing replaces the power of relationship building or face-to-face interaction, you are missing powerful opportunities for connection if you are not including technology in your communication with students.

This week’s post is a replay of a recent webinar presentation from my book Messaging Matters with a discussion of Chapter 6: Using Technology to Message with Students. The discussion includes two parts: Part 1 – Technology Tools for Messaging with Students & Part 2 – Releasing Weekly Student Newsletters.

Part 1–Technology Tools for Messaging with Students

As you enhance the ways you communicate with students, keep these ideas in mind:

1. Use social media.
2. Create promotions.
3. Feature announcements.
4. Post movies.
5. Use Reminder Applications.

Check out the webinar episode or presentation slides for visual samples of ways schools are building their presence with these tools.

Ask yourself these questions:

1. What is one new tool you can commit to using over the next thirty days to enhance your student outreach?
2. What is one way you are already consistently communicating with students? How could you enhance those messages with technologies that students are already using?
3. Who is someone on your team you could designate for helping with technology support?

Part 2–Releasing Weekly Student Newsletters

Another way to enhance communication with students is by having a consistent, weekly wrap-up you can share through a newsletter or other platform.

At my school, one of my technology teachers helped coordinate content with students. They shared that content with me for a weekly release via a student newsletter. Other schools do this by creating their own websites, video-shares, or photo releases.

If you are interested in coordinating a weekly newsletter, keep these ideas in mind:

1. Collect and build content.
2. Organize information into categories.
3. Assign student roles.
4. Create your draft template.
5. Proof and review.
6. Share digitally.
7. Don’t let mistakes stop the momentum.

When it comes to collecting and b