Social media guidelines for staff
For educators a personal digital footprint can impact on their professional lives.
Educators who establish or make contributions to professional blogs where their employer is clearly identified are encouraged to discuss this online activity with school management.
Clear social media guidelines for staff can pave the way for educators to be involved in national and global conversations that enhance their professional reputation and that of their school.
Social media should be validated by employers as a crucial self directed PD activity. Independent and group (social) learning on topics that professionally engage need to be recognised by employers.Possibly an elearning PD portfolio could collate staff learning.
Hi Tony
Your response has made me rethink that last paragraph here. “… involved in national and global conversations that enhance their professional learning and broaden PD opportunities for the school.”
I have read of one instance where a teacher in the US lost their job because of perceived inappropriate comments made on his blog. I know of an instance in NZ where the BOT asked a teacher to close down their facebook site because there were a number of students who were his facebook friends, and this was considered inappropriate. I think, therefore, that it is very important that social media guidelines for staff are developed and that staff have PD about keeping themselves safe on line and the impact their digital footprint can have on their personal and professional lives.