21st Century Learning #111: School Communications

Post-Show description: 

21st Century Learning #111
October 13, 2009
A Conversation about School Communications.

Public or private, open source blog or vendor hosted community space?  Grass roots or top down?  What is your communications strategy?

Reshan Richards from The Town School joined us to discuss their new school communications strategy and we had a lively discussion about how vendor hosted web sites and communities, moodle, google docs, and blogs go into a whole school communications strategy.  Be sure to check out the chat trans for a great conversation. 

Want to join in the discussion?  Post your comments in twitter and use the hash tag #ETT21.

Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/2738452057/


Chat Trans




2009-10-13 14:01:21 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Hi Durff!
2009-10-13 14:01:25 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Almost ready.
2009-10-13 14:02:15 [Message] VinnieV -> -EdTechTalk: Good day, Durff
2009-10-13 14:02:25 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: http://www.flickr.com/badge.gne
2009-10-13 14:02:28 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: There you go.
2009-10-13 14:04:51 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: hi all
2009-10-13 14:05:27 [Message] VinnieV -> -EdTechTalk: Good afternoon Peggy. Welcome Ken Ambach
2009-10-13 14:05:56 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: Hi there! still morning in Phoenix AZ :-) Great to see you!
2009-10-13 14:07:59 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: have you started the stream yet? not hearing it
2009-10-13 14:08:17 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: we're streaming.
2009-10-13 14:08:30 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Had to get our ducks in a row.
2009-10-13 14:08:57 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: excellent! hearing it now :-) just heard a deep sigh
2009-10-13 14:09:59 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: hey matt! long time
2009-10-13 14:10:01 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: Hi Matt-lunch break for you?
2009-10-13 14:10:23 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: Hey Pegg, Arvind, et al
2009-10-13 14:10:28 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: hi bill
2009-10-13 14:10:29 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: just before lunch
2009-10-13 14:10:41 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: Hey Vinnie
2009-10-13 14:10:43 [Message] Bill -> -EdTechTalk: hey all
2009-10-13 14:10:47 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: sounds like a great topic!
2009-10-13 14:10:55 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: great topic!
2009-10-13 14:11:10 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: task done - this is a nice break
2009-10-13 14:11:20 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: wow! episode #111!!!! impressive!
2009-10-13 14:12:01 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I'm always asked, which one should I use, moodle, google sites, Finalsite, Facebook fan pages, Twitter, or etc?? My answer typically is, "Yes!"
2009-10-13 14:12:31 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: awesome possibilities, huh, Matt? :-)
2009-10-13 14:12:44 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: @Matt From a parent perspective, I think the school needs to have one place where it all starts, right?
2009-10-13 14:13:02 [Message] VinnieV -> -EdTechTalk: Hey all.
2009-10-13 14:13:04 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @peggyg...indeed...wonderful mashups can happen if you give them the tools and let people be creative
2009-10-13 14:13:06 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: many schools/districts seem to be using portals on their own servers
2009-10-13 14:13:10 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: hey vinnie
2009-10-13 14:13:36 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @alex...with people being able to build their own dashboard app that is customized to their needs, I'm not so sure that is true any longer
2009-10-13 14:13:56 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: arvind cut out
2009-10-13 14:14:06 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: I'm excited to see that changing as districts are more open to the open source options
2009-10-13 14:14:10 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Sorry. 
2009-10-13 14:14:11 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: My bad.
2009-10-13 14:14:15 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: oops, not arvind...but our guest
2009-10-13 14:14:16 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: Skype goblins at work
2009-10-13 14:14:16 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: np alex
2009-10-13 14:14:19 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: I think it's ok now.
2009-10-13 14:14:26 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: yup
2009-10-13 14:14:28 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: No, Alex clicking the wrong button.
2009-10-13 14:16:04 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: ouch that revolving door smarts
2009-10-13 14:16:27 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: @Matt -- Makes sense.  But most of our parents are really just at the beginning of that.
2009-10-13 14:16:43 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @alex...true
2009-10-13 14:18:04 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: interesting that students are the target in HS-seems like that's a place parents need to know more information because kids aren't telling them :-)
2009-10-13 14:18:05 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I also think we want to move away from groups (eg-silos/islands), especially as we look at more multi-age, interdisciplinary learning opportunities
2009-10-13 14:18:39 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that makes sense to me Matt
2009-10-13 14:19:06 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I'm really impressed with the way our librarian deployed a facebook fan page...awesome stuff happening there
2009-10-13 14:19:25 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @peggy...it increases the messiness for sure hto
2009-10-13 14:19:38 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: I'll bet!!
2009-10-13 14:20:26 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: we use Google Apps as well, but majority only with teachers - shared test calendars, meeting minutes, department documents
2009-10-13 14:20:27 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: keeping parent contact information current was always a big challenge for me as a principal! they just don't provide us with the information especially when it changes
2009-10-13 14:20:30 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: either way, there is this intense desire to control stuff...I think we need to give this up a bit and flatten out the communication hierarchy
2009-10-13 14:21:23 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that "control" also keeps others from learning good ways to manage this in our own schools because the sites are private and on internal servers
2009-10-13 14:21:32 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: It is cool some of the custom dashboards that our teachers are building via sites
2009-10-13 14:21:58 [Message] durfflady -> -EdTechTalk: bitte, ich muss gehen....
2009-10-13 14:22:55 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I think Wave attempts to answer silos
2009-10-13 14:22:58 [Message] Amanda -> -EdTechTalk: Even though the sites are private, I think a big concern, at least for a small school like mine, is retention in terms of marketing and what is available for poeple to see.
2009-10-13 14:23:01 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that's so impressive he's calling in via cell phone from a school retreat!
2009-10-13 14:23:04 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I think Yammer addresses silos as well
2009-10-13 14:23:41 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: our email network has turned into probably 90% operational...almost no sharing of learning and teaching...I don't know why, but it has
2009-10-13 14:24:11 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: is Yammer the Twitter alternative?
2009-10-13 14:24:25 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @peggy...yep, yammer is a private microblog network
2009-10-13 14:24:28 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: @Matt.  Agreed.  We've done a good job scaffolding teacher communication skills. 
2009-10-13 14:24:34 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that is an awesome tool!
2009-10-13 14:24:59 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: read Jarvis' "What Would Google Do?" great read about these types of things
2009-10-13 14:25:15 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: such a good point about pros/cons of open/closed conversations!
2009-10-13 14:25:32 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: we have a facebook fan page that has 160+ community members...it has been great...
2009-10-13 14:25:44 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297020380390457443115148940837... - The end of email.
2009-10-13 14:26:04 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: Engaging in conversations on the open web helps you control your organizations profile (to the extent that you can, of course)
2009-10-13 14:26:34 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: @Matt-you are really starting and modeling some excellent strategies! the facebook fan page sounds like it's really taking off!
2009-10-13 14:26:40 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I would direct prospective families to our library fan page to see the vibrant community that has developed there...
2009-10-13 14:26:59 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @peggy...it is a bit risque, and I hope I don't get burned!
2009-10-13 14:27:28 [Message] Amanda -> -EdTechTalk: @Matt--can I look at that? I don't know the school name.
2009-10-13 14:27:30 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: I know what you mean!! probably requires a lot of vigilance while it's getting started :-)
2009-10-13 14:27:41 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: Three things a school can do: Start a school twitter acct, start a school YouTube, sand start a school Facebook
2009-10-13 14:28:03 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: @amanda...go to facebook and search Castilleja School Library...become a fan!
2009-10-13 14:28:15 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: youtube: http://youtube.com/castischool
2009-10-13 14:28:16 [Message] Amanda -> -EdTechTalk: Thanks!
2009-10-13 14:28:21 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: np
2009-10-13 14:28:34 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: great show, everyone...
2009-10-13 14:28:44 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I feel all the challenges that you express here
2009-10-13 14:29:16 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: Chris Lehmann's population/school is a bit different than the average! that's an understatement :-)
2009-10-13 14:29:42 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: the interesting thing is that this doesn't cost any money at all...we can build a platform for hosting and steering wonderful conversation on the open web.
2009-10-13 14:30:25 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: excellent point Matt!
2009-10-13 14:30:41 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: nice job all
2009-10-13 14:30:51 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: thanks for continuing your good work with this broadcast...
2009-10-13 14:31:01 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: you bring up such awesome issues
2009-10-13 14:31:09 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Thanks, Matt.
2009-10-13 14:31:18 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: WooHoo.
2009-10-13 14:31:20 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: if you continue this conversation we can all be thinking about ideas to share :-)
2009-10-13 14:31:44 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: you could do a series of conversations on this!! :-) great stuff!
2009-10-13 14:31:45 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I think the strategy is Twitter, blogs, etc for commenting
2009-10-13 14:31:53 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: definitely, peggy...agreed.
2009-10-13 14:32:28 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I'm all in!
2009-10-13 14:32:30 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: get your recording posted for today :-) we can feature it in the next ETT newsletter
2009-10-13 14:32:42 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Thanks, Peggy. 
2009-10-13 14:32:43 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: what is the hashtag??
2009-10-13 14:32:47 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Will do our best.
2009-10-13 14:32:53 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: ETT21cl?
2009-10-13 14:32:56 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: ETT21cl
2009-10-13 14:32:59 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: looks good
2009-10-13 14:33:14 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: you can also use #edtechtalk
2009-10-13 14:33:20 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I learned you can post to hashtags if your status updates are blocked :-(
2009-10-13 14:33:26 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: *can't
2009-10-13 14:33:44 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: does anyone know if trolls are blowing up hashtags in a nefarious way??
2009-10-13 14:33:55 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: I worry about that a bit
2009-10-13 14:33:57 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that works for me :-) ETT21cl
2009-10-13 14:34:18 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: that's enough--don't make it too long
2009-10-13 14:34:23 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: ETT21?
2009-10-13 14:34:50 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Perfect!
2009-10-13 14:34:56 [Message] alex.ragone -> -EdTechTalk: Yeah, Chat room.
2009-10-13 14:35:32 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: I have a column on Tweetdeck just for edtechtalk and can follow all of the shows easily that way
2009-10-13 14:35:58 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: Peggy, I'm adding that now
2009-10-13 14:35:59 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: shorter is always better :-)
2009-10-13 14:36:42 [Message] matt montagne -> -EdTechTalk: what are you trying to convert??
2009-10-13 14:36:42 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: what language are you speaking in??? don't understand all of those acronyms :-)
2009-10-13 14:36:53 [Message] arvind -> -EdTechTalk: haha, thanks for being here everyone
2009-10-13 14:37:06 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: thanks for a great conversation!!!
2009-10-13 14:37:53 [Message] PeggyG -> -EdTechTalk: AVS4You is a great converter for Windows and Parallels on Mac