More About Social Networking

I was invited to the Oakland County Career Tech Prep teacher inservice on Friday.  I was able to sit in on the keynote presentation by Corey Perlman, author of eBoot Camp.  His book is about Internet marketing techniques for small businesses.  His message is that educators need to experience and understand social networking so that we can help students use social networking to connect with others and land jobs. 

He recommends that students should have a solid Internet presence before leaving high school:

• Upload at least one youtube video of themselves dressed nicely while communicating career goals.


• Blog.  Recommended platform is Wordpress.


• Use  linkedin. Ask teachers for recommendations.


• Post articles and best papers on Ezinearticles.


• Build a website.  Joomla is a platform that could be used.

I've always recommended that teachers not "friend" students.  Mr. Perlmam gave me a few ideas and I may change my mind.  There is a way to keep your main Facebook page private from students and still connect with them on Facebook.  You can create a Facebook group.  This will allow conversations, announcements, and collaboration to occur right in Facebook, where students already are.

Mr. Perlman's keynote gave the teachers who attended a brief overview of the power of social networking and a taste from many different tools.  My online course, 21st Century Learning, will help guide teachers as they venture on their journey.