TN Musician Vol. 69 No. 1 (proof 4)

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WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU POST by Karen Cross
TRYING TO KEEP UP with the rapid evolution in mobile technology and social media platforms can be overwhelming; yet the reality is that they offer undeniably effective and efficient means of communicating. As detailed in “Going Social” by Andy Stewart and Robert Ward, these technologies can help you keep students and parents informed, build a greater sense of community, and even extend the effectiveness of your instruction. While the technologies are quite easily accessible, using them effectively and responsibly isn’t always as simple as pressing send. Without face-to-face interaction, we lack the immediate opportunity to observe whether our communication was understood. And while this would suggest we should try to be clearer and more cautious in our electronic communications, the reality quite often seems the opposite—our hurried texts, social network updates, and emails at times reflect carelessness. And for educators, this can have significant and long-lasting consequences. In the April 2013 issue of School Band & Orchestra, an attorney specializing in education law reported on several legal issues facing music educators. He remarked: Given the potentially significant consequences, music educators who work so closely with students would do well to consider what department policies and/or personal professional practices should be put in place to protect themselves from facing the kinds of scenarios that people normally think would never happen to them . . . What would prevent a student from making any sort of false allegation? If the allegations can pass the initial “smell test,” what effect could it have on career, family, and reputation, even if eventually exonerated?” 1 WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Considering the effectiveness as well as the potential pitfalls inherent in communicating electronically, it seems a bit confusing to know what’s best. To help answer this question, we surveyed fine arts administrators across Texas to learn about their educators’ use of social media, their district policies, and their advice about communicating electronically with students and parents. Responses by over 60 administrators demonstrated a consistent overall view about the benefits and concerns of teachers communicating electronically with students and parents. Over 85% said their teachers use social media to communicate with students and parents; almost all use email; 67% use a program Facebook page; and 58% text. Of the districts responding, 72% have electronic communications policies. DISTRICT POLICIES While the information shared here was common across the state, always begin by using your district’s policies as the guide for communicating with your students and their parents. If your district doesn’t have a policy about electronic communication, start by creating at least a program-level policy, or work with administrators to establish one for the district. As you create a policy or review the one you have, consider the following common statements found in policies found in Texas: • Employees are held to the same professional standards in their public use of electronic media as they are for any other public conduct. • Employees will not share their personal networking sites with students or include students as members or friends. • Employees using text messaging must limit communications to matters within the scope of their professional responsibilities. • Employees have the right to participate in social networking sites; however, they should not post anything that would violate student confidentiality rights or that would negatively affect the perception of the employee’s ability to be effective in their job. • The district believes use of electronic media can be beneficial to students and parents in the educational process and in the communication of information. • The employee must maintain and is responsible for all communication within the program’s social network and cannot turn the responsibility over to a student or parent. • Parents must grant written permission for the director to send text messages about the program to their child and must further permit the director to copy the parent on all text messages sent their child. Tennessee Music Education Assocation | www.tnmea.org | 21
Page 1 and 2: The Official Publication of the Ten
Page 3 and 4: TENNESSEE MUSICIAN EDITORIAL STAFF
Page 5 and 6: Music Education - General/Vocal/Ins
Page 7 and 8: • Competitive scholarships availa
Page 9 and 10: is much more than event management,
Page 11 and 12: APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY 2016-1
Page 13 and 14: My plan is to have a “Leadership
Page 15 and 16: A two-year Swiss study involving 1,
Page 17 and 18: WHILE MARK PRENSKY’S observation
Page 19: Using social media to enhance and a
Page 24 and 25: • Text messaging must be limited
Page 26 and 27: 24 | TENNESSEE MUSICIAN | 2016 | Vo
Page 28 and 29: TMEA STATE CHORAL CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Page 30 and 31: TMEA STATE ORCHESTRA CHAIR’S MESS
Page 32 and 33: TENNESSEE U N I V E R S I T Y O F T
Page 34 and 35: TMEA STATE HIGHER EDUCATION CHAIR
Page 36 and 37: TMEA STATE COLLEGIATE NAfME CHAIR
Page 38 and 39: Compe Your Future Performance, Educ
Page 40 and 41: SOCIETY FOR MUSIC TEACHER EDUCATION
Page 42 and 43: TMEA BACK THEN • A proposed amend
Page 44: Tennessee Music Education Associati

TN Musician Vol. 69 No. 1 (proof 4)

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