independent schools, I would be very interested in hearing from schools that
have created active and vibrant online communities among families, students,
faculty, or alums--or (better still) ACROSS the lines of these constituent
communities. I'm thinking of social networks that function like the Front
Porch Forum <http://frontporchforum.com/> concept, bringing people who are
already living or working in close proximity together to build and enhance
personal and practical connections through digital media.
I am NOT particularly interested in examples of social media launched
explicitly for advancement purposes, although there will be cases in which
there is great crossover or in which communities begun for one purpose have
assumed (or been transformed into) another purpose for and by users. I think
the signs of the communities I am seeking would be lots of positive exchange
of information or ideas and a sense of "essentiality" among users (rather
like the feeling that binds users in Facebook communities, Twitter PLNs, or
listservs like this). Online newsletters, blogs, or even student newspapers
characterized by plenty of congenial and helpful "chatter" would also be
examples.
To make a long story short, I am hoping to explore ways in which the kind of
deep, personal experience that has long been the hallmark of independent
school communities might arise in situations where digital or virtual
connections predominate--enhancing and complementing the face-to-face
experience of participants and strengthening a school's community bonds,
educational purpose, and (incidentally but no less critically) brand.
My working thesis is that as schools shift toward more technology-driven
instruction, marketing, and communication--as schools themselves become more
"virtual"--they will need to figure out ways to (re)create and intensify
personal relationships that will be increasingly mediated by technology but
that must deliver the same (or higher) levels of personal satisfaction,
meaning, and value that our students, families, faculties, and graduates
have long enjoyed. I'd like to identify a few spots where this has already
begun, either by intent or through some happy evolution.
PLEASE EXCUSE CROSS-POSTING OF THE MESSAGE.
Many thanks in advance. Maybe this is a fool's errand, or one that may take
a while to come to fruition, and so I appreciate any help (or patient
advice) that anyone may have to offer.
Cheers--Peter Gow
--
Peter Gow
Director of College Counseling and Special Programs
Beaver Country Day School
791 Hammond Street
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467
www.bcdschool.org
617-738-2755 <callto:+16177382755> (O)
617-738-2747 <callto:+16177382747> (F)
petergow3 (Skype)
[ For info on ISED-L see https://www.gds.org/podium/default.aspx?t=128874 ]
Submissions to ISED-L are released under a creative commons, attribution, non-commercial, share-alike license.
RSS Feed, http://listserv.syr.edu/scripts/wa.exe?RSS&L=ISED-L
