This document discusses technology tools that can be used for communication and increasing efficiencies for PTAs. It recommends surveying parents to understand how they prefer to receive communications and reminds readers that paper communications are still important. The document promotes choosing one direct communication tool for the teachers, school, and PTA to use to avoid overwhelming families. Lastly, it stresses considering different families' language and cultural preferences for receiving information.

1. Technology Smackdown
Technology Tools for Communication and PTA Efficiencies
Julia D. Pile, President
Stinger Media, LLC
KY & 14th District PTA Social Media Commissioner
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2. First things first…
While I love social media and electronic communication,
nothing replaces face to face relationship building.
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3. Survey your parents:
-Where are they?
-Paper is not dead!
-Don’t forget about ELL
(English Language
Learners) families!
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4. All Tools Can Be Found on the Symbaloo Webmix:
http://mobileiphone.symbaloo.com/mix/ptatools
Every unit should have a social media policy or rules.
Remember: YOU, each and every one of you are a Parent
Leader and YOU represent the school.
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5. Use a #hashtag for all of your communications, best if school and
PTA communicate together, register your #hashtag (keep short)
Checkout: #Twuzz, #CEMSBlazers, #GoCrickets
All communication from your PTA and the school should have a
consistent look & feel i.e. “Branding”.
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6. Technology Smackdown – Let’s Break It Down
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7. Social Media Platforms
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8. Virtual/Video Tools
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9. Posting & Summarizing Tools
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10. Helpful Utilities
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11. Administrative Tools
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12. Event Management/Survey Tools
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13. Direct Communication Tools
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14. Direct Communication Tools
The teachers, school administration and PTA all need to agree
on a Direct Communication Tool as to not overwhelm families
by using multiple products. Do you have time to check 3 or 4
places for information each day? Make it easy for them and
you!
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15. Think About….
- How do you communicate with families who are not on
electronic methods? Paper can still be very useful.
- How do you communicate with families of different
languages? What are your top 2-5 languages?
- Do families of different cultures expect to receive
communications via different methods?
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16. Last step – Create
awareness of where
families can stay in
the loop and
encourage them to
communicate too!
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17. Questions????
Thank you for attending!
Please feel free to connect with me on
any of the social media platforms.
(juliepile)
#14kypta16