“I think it’s a connection … it started out with friends connecting with friends. Now it’s the community connecting,” said Andy Miller, coordinator, website and electronic media for Davidson County Community College. “Everybody is so busy. It’s a quick way people can get information quickly with phones. I think that’s neat. (Facebook) gives them an opportunity to respond to what we post, which makes them interact with us.”
Miller said the college utilizes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flicker to let people know what’s going on at the college. She said her department started playing around with the sites in 2007 and became more involved within the last year and a half. Information such as new programs and events are posted on the sties for the community to view.
“Anything you want to know about the college is on there,” Miller said. “We use it to communicate with our students and everybody in the community.”
The school has nearly 600 followers on Facebook, Miller said. Another helpful tool has been posting closings on the Facebook page in the case of inclement weather. She added the social media sites are mainly a way for the current generation to be connected to each other.
There are also some departments, organizations and sports teams at the college that have their own Facebook page as well. At times, Miller admits that with the use of cell phones or other technology, some people may view a social media site before going to the college’s website.
“It’s just quicker,” she said. “What you post on Facebook is short and sweet. More people will read that first.”
At the school systems, many Parent Teacher Organizations, clubs or sports teams have jumped on the bandwagon to share information. Not too many schools are using the sites yet. A couple are in the experimental stage such as Pickett Elementary. It has pages on Facebook and Twitter.
“It’s for us to find a way to get information out to the parents,” said Gina Spencer, principal of Pickett Elementary School. “It’s going good. I saw it was something happening in the world. I want to keep up with the times.”
Spencer is the one who governs the Facebook page. The page is mainly used for teachers to post school-related items for parents to view. She has it set up where children are not accepted as friends, however they can view the page if they choose. It’s also restricted where parents can look at the page, too, but they cannot post things.
“You have to be real careful,” she said. “The friends are employees or teachers. Teachers post things coming up in their class or what they have done. It is open for anyone to see. It is strictly used to get information out.”
Spencer noted that on a weekly basis the page can see up to 70 hits. She said that number is not bad because it shows people are looking at it, and she’s sure it will increase. To spread the word about the page on Facebook or on Twitter, Spencer said information is posted on the school’s website and in newsletters. Twitter provides updates and messages that share what’s going on at the school.
“I monitor it so I know it’s safe. We want it to be positive for the school,” Spencer said. “With the social media, we want to teach the older kids how to do it in a positive way and not to be doing things negative. We want our children to enjoy the Internet and be proud of their school.”
No other schools in Lexington use the social media sites. As a school system, Rick Kriesky, superintendent for Lexington City Schools, said the district has to keep up with new trends and technology.
“This means that we have to maintain a high level of security when using social media,” he said. “We cannot ignore the fact this is the way our young people communicate. Our philosophy is that we need to increase our inability to communicate. We do it with a high level of supervision so that these new methods are not abused.”
Keith Tobin, superintendent of Thomasville City Schools, agreed social media sites are growing, however it’s important to monitor the sites. He said Thomasville Middle School is experimenting with Facebook.
“Social media is a big deal out there. We wanted to make sure we’re able to use that to be a communication tool,” he said. “We want to make sure we don’t have anything improper. The board approved the use of it, if we use it in the right way.”
Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.
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