Social Media for Educators

What are the benefits of social media for educators and parents? With over 200 million blogs/bloggers in the world, with 50% of those on social media, the answer to this question was the topic on Lon Woodbury's Internet Talk Radio Show "Places for Struggling Teens" on November 14, 2011 on LATalkRadio", with his guests Dr. Russell Hyken, PhD, and Steven Walters. Hyken is the founder of Educational and Psychotherapy Services in St. Louis, MO and currently an educational placement specialist. Walters, who after studying at Brigham Young University became a staff member at New Haven, a therapeutic boarding school for girls within the InnerChange Family of Schools. He then left to start his own photography business where he learned how to work with social media. He currently has returned to InnerChange and is in charge of their social media efforts.

"Social change movements can occur or be created with social media in addition to social entertainment" Walters explained "and it allows you to be a part of the conversations going on." "Because it (social media) reaches so many people, it is a great source of what is important to you. Can you imagine as an educator, you bring it into the classroom, tweet a question to your students and put it up on a screen to create dialog?" asked Dr. Hyken. "And then be able to keep the conversation going once class is over, to promote the conversations? Social media can be a powerful tool."

It was also discussed that social media is harder for those over thirty to adopt or embrace, and teachers are often struggling to use it within their classrooms. Yet both Dr. Hyken and Walters agreed that these forms of media create connections, build relationships and help build a community with others who are interested and share the same passion in things as you."

For those just getting started in using social media, the opinion was unanimous: don't be afraid to fail, get comfortable with it and try! Keep trying and be consistent�practice makes perfect.

To listen to the full interview go to Social Media For Educators on LATalkRadio.

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent choices for Struggling Teens on LATalkRadio Mondays at 12:00 Noon, Pacific Time, Channel One, immediately after Allen Cardoza's Answers4theFamily show.