SITE19 Reminder & Call for Chapters

Heads up, Social Media scholars! While Dan & I know that you're all toiling away on your submissions for #SITE19 (REMINDER: DUE SEPTEMBER 15), we've just received word of a social media book project out of Central Michigan University that is destined for administrators. And they've had some authors back out. If this project interests you, contact Ray Francis (franc1rw@cmich.edu) or Mark Deschaine (desch1me@cmich.edu). Chapters (see available topics below) should be 5,000-7,000 words with an "as soon as possible" deadline. The book will be published by ICPEL Publishing (International Council for Professors of Ed Leadership Press). Available topics include:

• Message versus the Medium. Often times, people confuse the important of their message, with the capabilities and limitations of the medium. We are looking for content that globally explores how social media can help craft a powerful message that assists educational leaders in doing their job

• Supporting Social Media from an Enterprise Perspective. Effective social media needs to be supported across the entire district. How do educational programs effectively deal with cost, infrastructure, personnel costs, and professional development/training?

• Evaluating Social Media. Effective social media has an evaluation component as part of the system. In this chapter, we would like content on how administrators can efficiently utilize analytics, usage rates, social media post evaluations, and what platforms or tools are used by constituents. What benchmark or standard can be used by administrators to determine “effectiveness”? In what way can administrators adapt to the constant flow of new social media applications?

• Social Media as an Expressive Communication Tool. How can social media assist administrators get their message out to their constituents? How does social media supplant or support traditional avenues for getting information or content to students, parents, faculty, staff, boards, or communities? Is there still a role in today’s schools for hard copy newsletters? What messages are appropriate to be disseminated via social media? Are there messages that should NOT be sent out on social media—if so, which ones and why?

• Social Media as a Receptive Communication Tool. Social media allows administrators a way to “listen” to their communities in ways never before possible. How can administrators utilize social media as a “social listening tool”? How can social media be utilized to “take the pulse of the educational community”? How can administrators utilize social media for assessment, evaluation, and trend analysis for their programs and districts? What are social media listening tools? What social listening tools are most effective to meet the needs of schools, districts, and programs? What ethical issues must be addressed? Is there a line drawn between “listening” to social media and “eavesdropping, gossiping, and being nosy?” What action should an administrator take if she or he discovers something objectionable or possibly dangerous or harmful while “listening?”7. Social Media as a Marketing Tool for the District. Business, industry, and non-profit groups effectively utilize social media to market their programs and services. How might social media be utilized by schools as a marketing tool for the district? What types of issues need to be considered when a marketing campaign via social media is utilized?

• What’s Next? Technology and the tools it provides are changing rapidly. What events or enhancements should administrators focus on as they attempt to plan for future utilization of social media? How will the capabilities of Second Life, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Real-Time Streaming of Content, 365 Panoramas, and Google Earth 3D (to name a few), or any other enhancement as of yet not identified or developed, impact educational districts, schools, programs, staffs, or communities? How can administrators effectively prepare for these changes?