The
age of technology has provided us with the World Wide Web (www), that became
the information system on things we were in search of and we also have the
convenience of communicating quickly through blogs, emails, and phone texts. Now
social media has become the wave of communication. With social media, opinions
can be expressed, braking news can be shared, and information on social issues
becomes public. The generation of social media evolved into many names, such as
MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tumblr. There are so many options
to choose from; however choosing a social media that would generate the
information needed to the desired population is important.
A
policy that I am interested in, involves “Recognizing Qualified
Family Childcare Programs to Implement Universal Pre-K Programs”. Social media
could be a route that would generate multiple attention and support to my
policy. The use of Facebook and LinkedIn would be the two social media that I
would connect to in order to communicate my policy issues. My Facebook audience
would consist of colleagues and parents that are in the shared arena of early
childcare education and has the same views. These colleagues and parents may share
information on my policy to their associated colleagues; therefore adding more
supporters of my policy. My LinkedIn audience would be professionals in education
and the political field. By linking with those audiences it may also increase
addition support to my policy.
The reason I would use those two social media
is to exchange opinions that would bring new insight than officials and for
government to adopt citizens’ ideas in the policy proposal making and decision
stages. One challenge in using both social medium is making sure that the
information provided about the reasons for the policy is correct. According to
June, Hong, and Sung-Min (2011), it is important that what is said on social media
is truthful and carefully stated because once information is posted into social
media there is no turning back. Another challenge for using social media is
getting additional audience to support your policy, for example, your audience
may be the same people you communicate with often. In a case study, “The
Advance Michigan Project”, there was an attempt to use social media to engage
with stakeholders; however, one of many challenges they encountered was not
attracting a wide group of stakeholders in Michigan, but the same audiences
they already had (Lampe, LaRose, Steinfield, & DeMaagd, 2011).
In my opinion, social media may have its
benefits and challenges; however it is a major source of communication and it all
depends on how it is used.
Reference
June,
P., Hong, C., & Sung-Min, P. (2011). Social media's impact on policy
making. SERI
Quarterly, 4(4), 125–129.
Kagan, S. L., &
Kauerz, K. (Eds.). (2012). Early
childhood systems: Transforming early
learning. New York, NY:
Teachers College Press.
Lampe, C., LaRose, R.,
Steinfield, C., & DeMaagd, K. (2011). Inherent barriers to the use of
social
media for public policy informatics, Innovation
Journal, 16(1), 1-17.
Susan,
ReplyDeleteThe social media is a powerful marketing tool. Facebook would provide an extensive audience for policy issues. Many people are using Facebook for business and personal reasons. Have you considered creating a Facebook page for your issue and Family Child Care Providers? You could possibly generate a great following and collect information from providers who may live in states where they are participants in Universal Pre-K. Just an idea!
Kimberly
That is a great idea Kimberly. I am going to try that. Thanks
DeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your policy of change of "Recognizing Qualified Family Childcare Programs to Implement Universal Pre-K Programs." Facebook is an excellent source of social media to promote and influence policy change. Facebook gives viewers and followers the opportunity to click on like or comment on your policy page, share your post, upload photos to your policy page, check-in their status to help support your policy. Almost the entire world is on Facebook 24/7. Facebook will help promote your policy worldwide and locally. For example, the debate about the dress in New York in which people were commenting on Facebook if the dress is gold and white or black and blue according to the lighting and shadow of the dress. This topic made it worldwide on Facebook and in the news media. It was a one-day sensation. I first heard of it during my conference time, then I saw it on Facebook, then in the news media when I arrived home all in one day. Using the dress example, can help spread the word about your policy change. Thank you, Vianey Garcia.
Royea and Appl (2009) advises about the importance of advocacy is telling or demonstrating something you know to someone you know in order to improve the quality of life for others. Child advocacy is any individual or cooperative action that strives to enrich the lives of children, including challenging injustices and promoting overall welfare. Advocacy is a professional responsibility and, "if you do not take action, who will?" The authors helps us to understand the purpose of advocating policy change. In our case, it is all in the best interest of our children in our communities.
Reference
Royea, A., & Appl, D (2009). Every voice matters: The importance of advocacy. Early Childhood Education Journal, 37(2), 89-91. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
Thanks for commenting. Our position as advocates are very important for the well being of children.
DeleteGreat post Susan! I think sharing information with colleagues and parents, especially decision-making information, on Facebook is a wonderful idea and a good social media outlet to do so. I also agree with Kimberly's comment on perhaps creating a specific Facebook page for this. I agree with you regarding the June article. It is so important to share correct information from the beginning. Thank you, Cissy
ReplyDeleteCissy, thanks for commenting.
DeletePeople would use the phase "words won't hurt you", and for many cases with social media that is not true. Therefore as educators we have to make sure our information is correct and professional.
Hey,Great Post! I think that using Linkedin is an excellent idea. Linkedin helps you engaged with different people from different professional networks. Great media outlet for networking.
ReplyDeleteThank you Nicole. My son was the one that really got me more in touch with Linkedin and it is very good on the professional side of things.
DeleteGreat Post! I too picked Facebook as an outlet for my policy. There was a time when faceook was only for college students. Now that it extends to everyone it is one of the more common social media typed that spans young to old. With the rise of social media we have to be knowledgeable of how to promote out policies in an effective manner. The great thing about social media is that you never know whose eye your policy man catch that can help ;aunch it into exsistence!
ReplyDeleteKara, thanks for your comment. It is great that we chose the same social media. Facebook as surly grown over the years.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan,
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting and comprehensive post! I had actually not even thought of using LinkedIn, and am intrigued by the idea! I have heard of people using LinkedIn for both blogging and setting up discussion groups but have not gotten involved with these. I wonder: were you thinking of using some of these features as well as the networking? So many professionals at least have a LinkedIn presence and it seems as though it would have great potential to channel connections into action if one knew how to use it effectively. I'm looking forward to learning more about your ideas on this as we move forward!
Stephanie
Stephanie, I am still learning about LinkedIn, but I do want to try to use their options to see what it will offer regarding my course project.
DeleteHello Susan,
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome and very informative post. Your issue concerning Universal Pre-K is great, here in Philadelphia, the early childhood education community and several city council men and women came together to petition for the ballot question concerning Universal Pre-K to be put on Philadelphia’s May primary election. There is no doubt that traditional networking and social media played a major part in getting this on the primary election ballot. Your selections are great tools to communicate with the early childhood education community... such as Facebook. Susan, I agree with you, social media can have it benefits and challenges; but it is how one uses this world wide web, because once one click “enter” it is out there forever.
Thanks for your comment. When it comes to social media, it is so important to double check what your submit because like you said, once it is out there, it is out there forever.
DeleteHello Susan
ReplyDeleteYour post was very informative and a great post. Facebook has become a great place to communicate and networking. At my school we are currently required to tweet about the events in my classroom and I find myself baffled because they push how negative social media can be and how they prefer for the children to not be on social media. So I feel a lot of people have mix feelings about the benefits and challenges. I believe when used appropriately social media can be a benefit. Great post!
Heather
Thanks Heather, That is so interesting that as a teacher your have to submit information on social media, but students are encourage to stay off it. That is truly a mix message. I believe parent guidance is very important and providing children with knowledge about social media. Never the less, social media can be a great source of communication.
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