The relevance of social media in schools in enhancing educational experiences and
community engagement cannot be overstated. From nursery through to higher
education, institutions are increasingly leveraging these platforms to connect,
inform, and inspire.
Schools need to engage with their stakeholders and shout out just how good they are. They need to be seen as beacons in their community and share all that they can offer young people as they progress through their education journey.
We’ve been working with the education sector for eight years now, and we have loved every minute of it. It is a cause close to our hearts as Nicky is a Chair of Governors and Safeguarding Governor and James has been a trustee of an early years setting and has supported a number of children’s clubs and charities too.
After all these years, there is one question we are constantly asked: What is the best social media platform for schools? So, we’re going to answer that question here, and hopefully demystify social media for education, with the goal of ensuring your setting can navigate it with confidence and ease.
Understanding the Role of Social Media in Education
Before we dive into comparing platforms, it’s crucial to acknowledge the transformative role of social media in the educational sector. It’s not just a medium to share updates and event photos; it’s a dynamic tool for teaching, learning, and nurturing a vibrant school community. When used effectively, social media enhances student engagement, supports collaborative learning, and provides a channel for real-time communication with parents, students, and the wider community.
Evaluating the Best Platforms for Your School
When considering how to do social media for school, the “best” platform depends on your goals, audience, and content strategy. Let’s look at the frontrunners:
- Facebook: With its broad demographic reach, Facebook is a powerhouse for engaging not just students but parents and alumni as well. It’s excellent for event promotion, sharing news updates, and fostering community through groups. Its versatile content format support means you can post text, photos, videos, and live streams to keep your audience engaged.
2. Instagram: If your target audience leans toward a younger demographic, including high school and college students, Instagram is your go-to platform. Its visual nature is perfect for showcasing campus life, student achievements, and classroom activities through eye-catching photos and videos. Instagram Stories and Reels offer creative avenues to share quick, engaging content that captures the vibrant essence of school life.
3. X: For real-time communication, X is unparalleled. It’s an excellent tool for sharing quick updates, celebrating achievements, and engaging in broader educational conversations. Hashtags can amplify your visibility, making it easier to participate in global discussions too.
4. LinkedIn: Often overlooked, LinkedIn is a goldmine for higher education institutions. It’s ideal for alumni engagement, professional development for educators, and showcasing academic achievements and research initiatives. It connects your institution with a network of professionals and potential partners, emphasising career development and success stories.
5. YouTube: As the second largest search engine, YouTube is a phenomenal platform for educational content. From virtual tours and event highlights to educational resources and student projects, video content can significantly enhance your school’s online presence. Plus, it’s an engaging way to support blended learning initiatives and showcase your educational methodologies.
In our experience, if you just want to focus on one social media platform for now, Facebook is the one. It retains a real community atmosphere; it’s easy to recommend and tag and overall, it offers an engaging place for schools to be, and to reach their chosen audiences.
Crafting a Successful Social Media Strategy for Education
Choosing the right platform is the first step. Next is crafting a strategy that resonates with your community. Here’s how:
- Define Your Objectives: What do you hope to achieve? Increased engagement, community building, parental involvement, or student recruitment? Set clear, measurable goals.
- Know Your Audience: Tailor your content to the interests and needs of your community. What works for college students may not engage parents and vice versa.
- Content is King: Create a diverse content calendar that includes news updates, success stories, educational resources, and interactive content. Engagement boosts visibility.
- Encourage Participation: Encourage a sense of community by encouraging interaction. Host Q&A sessions, conduct polls, and invite user-generated content.
- Monitor and Adapt: Use analytics to track your success and adjust your strategy accordingly. What resonates with your audience? More importantly, what doesn’t?
We offer several downloads to support schools in managing their social media here https://babbl.co.uk/unlock-success-with-babbls-expert-designed-tools-on-etsy/
Overcoming Challenges: A Note on Internet Safety and Privacy
Navigating social media in the educational context comes with its set of challenges, particularly concerning privacy and online safety. It’s imperative to establish clear guidelines for social media use, ensuring content respects the privacy and safety of students and staff. Encouraging positive online behaviour and educating your community about digital citizenship should be integral to your social media policy.
We recommend following https://www.facebook.com/wuw.thenationalcollege who regularly share hints and tips on staying safe online, as well as engaging fact sheets on safety features and dangers on popular apps.
The Final Bell
In conclusion, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to the best social media platform for schools. It hinges on your unique community, goals, and content. However, with a thoughtful approach to social media for education, the potential to enrich your school’s learning environment and community engagement is boundless.
Once you have been sharing content for a few weeks we recommend checking in with your analytics, which will show you what posts are performing well and lots more. We have a blog explaining more on this here https://babbl.co.uk/understanding-social-media-analytics/
Remember, the journey to social media proficiency is a continuous learning curve. Embrace it with the same passion you bring to education. And, should you need a guide along the way, our door is always open. You can always email us at Hello@Babbl.co.uk
You can find out more about how we support schools with their social media here https://babbl.co.uk/social-media-for-schools/