Education Archives - Social Media Explorer https://socialmediaexplorer.com/tag/education/ Exploring the World of Social Media from the Inside Out Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:07:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 Now is The Time to Earn a Master’s Degree in Software Development https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/tools-and-tips/ms-in-software-development/ Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:07:53 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/?p=46846 As we move further into the digital and information age, software development will continue to...

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As we move further into the digital and information age, software development will continue to be a popular field for innovation and career pursuit. Many people are interested in launching a career in the field, however, they do not have the academic background or qualifications for the job. Fortunately, new programs are available for people looking to earn an MS in software development in under a year. Despite popular belief, a computer science background is not required for a career in this field, and there are more efficient ways to secure job placement and experience.

With a broad definition of creating, designing, deploying, and supporting software, there are so many avenues for budding professionals to pursue in this industry. There has also been tremendous growth in the industry in several states across the United States, with Texas, New York, and Virginia at the forefront. Additionally, software touches every aspect of our lives, from apps and APIs to credit cards and bank accounts. From the automotive industry to content development, there are no boundaries regarding software’s benefits.

With new and efficient programming, the path to becoming a software developer is more accessible than ever. To complete the program, one doesn’t need a relevant academic background, and schedules can be tailored to foster both in-person and remote learning. These flexible options are more attainable than traditional Master’s programs and offer more real-world experience. Students leave these programs feeling equipped to succeed in the job market and supported by mentors and leaders around them every step of the way.

How to Become a Software Developer in 10 Months
Source: YU Global

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Fearing Hamas Executions, Schools Urge Deletion of TikTok, Instagram https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/fearing-hamas-executions-schools-urge-deletion-of-tiktok-instagram/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 12:19:05 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/fearing-hamas-executions-schools-urge-deletion-of-tiktok-instagram/ Hamas’s promise to broadcast the murder of hostages on its social media sites has school...

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American and Israeli schools encourage parents to remove their children’s accounts on social media. They do this because they believe that Hamas terrorists could use popular apps as a weapon to spread the news of the brutal killings.


Schools across the United States and Israel are urging parents to ensure their children delete TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Telegram “immediately” in anticipation of the terrorist group Hamas broadcasting videos executing hostages it has taken in its attack against Israel.

Hamas’ spokesperson warned the group would post pictures of its captured civilians if Israel attacked Gazans without prior warning. White House: In addition to 150 Israelis taken hostage, there may also be at least twenty missing Americans among those held by Hamas. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by the U.S. Government, and some of its members have also been declared terrorists.

“Dear Parents: We have been notified that soon there will be videos sent of the hostages begging for their lives,” one school wrote in a memo to families reviewed by SME. “Please delete TikTok from your children’s phones. We cannot allow our children to see them.”

“It’s hard for us, it’s impossible for us, to digest all of the content displayed on various social networks,” said the note, which SMETranslated from Hebrew A separate letter in Hebrew called on parents to delete Facebook and Telegram from their kids’ phones, in addition to TikTok.

In New Jersey, this letter was sent to almost 1,000 parents and students at a private high school.

“Local psychologists have reached out to us and informed us that the Israeli government is urging parents to tell their children to delete Instagram and TikTok immediately,” the principal wrote in an email seen by SME. “We strongly advise our students to do the same as soon as possible. … As one Israeli psychologist noted, ‘The videos and testimonies we are currently exposed to are bigger and crueler than our souls can contain.’”

SMEFor security purposes, the school names have been removed. Scores of parents in Arizona, New York and Canada as well as the U.K., claimed on social media that they too had been given this guidance by schools.

“The videos and testimonies we are currently exposed to are bigger and crueler than our souls can contain.”


Since Hamas waged its surprise attack on Israel on Saturday, gruesome videos of the violence have quickly gone viral on the world’s most widely-used social media platforms, testing the companies’ policies and processes aimed at preventing or removing harmful content. Graphic reels of bloodied women who’d been raped, kidnapped or killed—and whose corpses were then paraded around Gaza as soldiers sat on them and onlookers spit on them—have been easy to find across the major platforms.

News of schools blasting out letters urging families to delete popular apps prompted Senator Rick Scott to call on the platforms to remove troubling posts and accounts that “instill fear and create chaos” and prevent Hamas from monetizing them in any way. “We’ve seen reports of babies savagely beheaded. The parents of children are shot. The elderly dragged through the streets,” Scott said. “Now Iran-backed Hamas wants to inflict more terror by sharing videos of hostages begging for their lives in Gaza. Companies that operate social media MUST act. TikTok, Instagram (Meta), X and every other social media platform have an obligation to stop these terrorists from distributing posts containing violence and murder and collecting financial support for their terror operations.”

TikTok and Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the schools’ concerns and how the companies are approaching the possibility that Hamas terrorists may try to weaponize mainstream platforms to spread these violent videos.

TikTok’s policies state that it does not allow “violent and hateful organizations or individuals” on the platform. The policy states that mass murderers, hate or criminal organizations, and violent extremists are all prohibited. Meta also prohibits organizations and individuals “organizing or advocating for violence against civilians… or engaging in systematic criminal operations.” That includes groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S. government, such as Hamas, or individuals designated as terrorists. “We remove praise, substantive support, and representation of [these] entities as well as their leaders, founders, or prominent members,” Meta’s rules state.

Politicians are not only concerned with viral videos that show violence. The sites have also spread misinformation regarding the war. This includes deceptive video clips about purported damage, victims and rescues. The misinformation spread because many people on the ground turned to social media for updates, especially X (formerly Twitter).

For example, European commissioner Thierry Breton demanded action from X on Tuesday to address “illegal content and disinformation” being spread in the EU—warning that the company’s moderation (or lack thereof) of this material could violate the bloc’s Digital Services Act. The Digital Services Act of the EU could be violated by the company’s moderation (or lack thereof) of this material. a letter to owner Elon Musk, Breton called on X to be clearer about what’s allowed on the site when it comes to terrorist or violent content and faster to take it down. The platform has been plagued by “fake and manipulated images and facts,” including “repurposed old images of unrelated armed conflicts or military footage that actually originated from video games,” Breton wrote, creating a “risk to public security and civic discourse.” Musk replied that “our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports.”

At X, the conflict is arguably the company’s highest-stakes challenge yet since Musk took over Twitter one year ago. Its safety crew said this week that it has seen a surge of active users in the conflict area and that X leaders were deploying “the highest level of response” to protect discourse as the crisis intensifies. This includes the removal of new Hamas accounts, monitoring antisemitic speeches and working with industry anti-terrorism group, Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism to track problem trends. Its tolerance of graphic content appears to be high.

“We know that it’s sometimes incredibly difficult to see certain content, especially in moments like the one unfolding,” the safety team’s statement said. “In these situations, X believes that, while difficult, it’s in the public’s interest to understand what’s happening in real time.”

Rina Torchinsky contributed reporting.

Forbs: More From ForbesBillionaire Ackman and Others Promise Not to Hire Harvard Students who Signed a Letter Criticizing IsraelForbs: More From ForbesBiden: Americans are among Hamas hostagesForbs: More From ForbesHamas Imprisons Israeli Soldiers And Civilians

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Teaching Social Media—Adding To K-12 Curriculum https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/teaching-social-media-adding-to-k-12-curriculum/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 18:28:57 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/teaching-social-media-adding-to-k-12-curriculum/ Some people argue that social media should at the very least be introduced to students....

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It has been suggested that the students be taught social media basics. This could be a new set of “3 R’s” for education. The social media 3Rs might include, in addition to “reading, writing, and math,” “research” and “respect.”

The “researching” ability could be used to help teach young users on social media how to avoid believing everything that is posted. This would help to stop the spread misinformation. The “responsible use” of social media helps users to understand the importance of being careful about what they share, as well as showing respect towards other users.

Increased social media usage could mean more problems

This curriculum will become even more essential as users of social networks are expected to grow in number over the next few years.

Statista reports that the number of social media users worldwide has risen from 970 millions in 2010 to 2,96 billion by 2020. This is according to Dr. Vivian Maria Vasquez of American University, a professor of Education.

Vasquez said, “Today’s children grow up in a world with increased media usage. A world that is characterized by new technologies and forms of communication.”

As technology became more accessible and kids gained more independence, they spent more time on tablets, social media, streaming and other technologies.

The use of social media platforms has increased the possibility to instantly broadcast experiences of life as they happen. “Social media is a great way for companies to sell products, and news outlets and government agencies to quickly share information in real time,” Vasquez said.

In order to help navigate the online world, such as on social media, youth today may require tools. Vasquez believes that media literacy should be part of the literacy curriculum.

Stacie Pettit, an associate professor in teacher education from Augusta University Online suggested that media literacy and awareness of social media should also be emphasized.

Pettit said that students do not need to be taught about the platform itself, but rather how to identify credible online information and stay safe when using the internet. As far as social media is concerned, teachers can use it to engage students by using this tool. But teachers must consider their purpose in using social networks and should not use them just for its own sake.

There is a New Media

Though other mediums didn’t require such education—no one ever taught anyone how to watch TV or even how to play video games—a difference here is how social media can impact the user in ways that other media does not.

It could be as simple as giving younger users an insight into the impact of this medium on people’s everyday lives.

Anthony Silard is a professor of Luiss Business School, Rome and author of Digital Age: The Art of Free Living.

Silard said that social media and phones are both as captivating for our children and teenagers as they are us. Both are here to remain. We will keep doing the same thing until we are ready to help them adapt to this new aspect of their life.

This is where it could back to those new Rs—so that children understand how to be respectful of others, how they need to take responsibility for what they post and how they shouldn’t contribute to the spread of falsehoods via the platforms.

Vasquez stated that “children need to learn how to critically evaluate the messages on social media they come across directly or indirectly to ensure they’re not duped by anything they hear, read, or see.”

Children need to know what messages to retain and which to discard from the media. In our classrooms, we need to give children the space to see how media images and words are used to portray people in certain ways. To become a critical literate person, it is essential to teach children how text can be used in real life.

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Raphael Avraham Sternberg Education Benefits https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/raphael-avraham-sternberg-education-benefits/ Fri, 25 Nov 2022 12:06:31 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/?p=41224 What is your opinion about the school, and completing projects in college life? Raphael Avraham Sternberg asked

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What is your opinion about the school, and completing projects in college life? Raphael Avraham Sternberg asked. Do you think it was a waste of time or the education system has benefitted you in one or another way? If you think deeply about this factor, you may perceive the fact that education is one of the important factors in the growth of society as well as progress. The same is the opinion of Raphael Sternberg.

Society

According to Raphael Avraham Sternberg, a society with educated people has a higher chance of growth and has the potential for positive and financial growth for their family in society by participating in the various aspects and spheres of life. Education is one of the key components in the stimulation of society. It is also one of the best factors that have proven to create a stable society. Education occupies the key importance in society. Some of the factors which illustrate the importance of society are mentioned in the proceeding lines.

Education creates employment opportunities

Education is one of the basic factors which is necessary for getting a job, SAYS Finding a suitable job with a good income is not an easy task. In the present time of economic turmoil, education is the basic thing that is required for recruitment of the employees. There are many jobs and the number of candidates is always far more than the presented seats. The issue which is increasing in the present age is that the level and ratio of education is higher while the jobs issued for the recruitment are for low scales. Highly qualified people are applying for low-scale jobs which sacrifice the job opportunities of people with low education.

Educational background

The right educational background and right qualifications increase the chances of having a fulfilling job that can earn the amount which is sufficient for your expenses as well. For this purpose, apart from education, you must be doing practice during your educational career. Along with the job and education, you should also opt for the knowledge, skills, and courses which are necessary for getting a job that is as per your requirements and status.

Education helps in securing a high income

The basic priority of every educated individual is to secure a job with a high income. The highly paid jobs usually require the skills, experience, and education at the same spot. The pay is high so definitely, it will require the aspects which are not available to the common people. What you should do for the sake of having a secure yet highly-paying job?

  • Raphael Avraham Sternberg has illustrated some facts: Students should study hard to get good grades.
  • Should enhance your competence level.
  • Gain experience during your educational career. L learn the skills and courses which are required for professional life.

Students

According to Raphael Avraham Sternberg, the students who do all of the above-mentioned things during their student life have more chances of securing a high-paying job that has the potential of offering a successful yet comfortable life ahead.

As per the statement of Raphael Sternberg, employers see all of the above opportunities as a high advantage and prefer to have a knowledgeable yet responsible workforce that has at least the basic knowledge of the field beforehand.

The high-paying jobs require the effort, experience, and skills that come with time. After graduation, you must start working for every opportunity you find for gaining experience. The experience will get to the learning and both these factors collectively settle you for a high-paying job.

The problem-solving skills are mandatory

The biggest benefit of education is that it helps you in getting yourself out of problems as well as it helps in having a mindset that is about solving problems.

Education helps us in this regard by developing and obtaining logical thinking, and a critical approach toward the issues while offering the potential to the students for making independent decisions in their life and career. According to the suggestion of Raphael Sternberg, adulthood brings many challenges for students which includes getting a job, paying off student loans, buying a house, getting a car as well as provision for your family, and many more unending list of problem which continues for life.

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Importance of Equality in Education with Jonathan Osler https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/importance-of-equality-in-education-with-jonathan-osler/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 15:34:23 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/?p=39576 Importance of Equality in Education with Jonathan Osler Addressing Equality in Education Over the past...

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Importance of Equality in Education with Jonathan Osler

Addressing Equality in Education

Over the past few decades, education has become one of the most important issues when discussing the future of the nation’s youth. There have been many discussions about how the education system benefits certain groups of people while other groups are denied access to the same opportunities. When making reforms to the education system, one of the things that people often suggest is addressing racial equality in education. Many advocates for equality in education stress that people from disadvantaged backgrounds are often unable to obtain the education they need in order to gain admission to leading colleges as well as attain better employment opportunities. With equality in education, everyone all over the United States will be able to position themselves for success in the future.

Ensuring Everyone Has an Adequate Education

As Jonathan Osler would agree, there are many benefits of racial equality in education. One of the benefits of addressing equality in education is by allowing everyone to get the best education available. Some people in the United States are often forced to attend schools that provide an education that is not up to the standards of other schools. As a result, these students fall behind in essential subjects such as English, reading and math. In order to get an adequate education, people of all races must attend schools that meet the education standards of all school districts and states. With an assurance that students will get an adequate education, they will be able to attain all of the knowledge and skills they need in order to have a better future.

Ability to Get Admission to Top Universities

Another benefit of racial equality in education is to provide students with the opportunity to gain admission to the top universities. Once students are able to get adequate preparation throughout their secondary school years, they will be in a better position to get into a university that will give them the training they need in order to get the best jobs available. They will also have the ability to get into top graduate programs in order to get into the highest paying career fields such as medicine, law, dentistry and business.

Opportunity to Obtain Better Jobs

Racial equality in education will also provide students with the opportunity to get the best jobs. They will be able to get degrees in fields that prepare them for jobs in the technology, engineering and business sectors. Instead of getting degrees in programs that don’t provide any marketable knowledge and skills, students can learn things such as computer science and information technology to get jobs that pay a good salary. With better job opportunities, people of all races will be able to live a better lifestyle and avoid experiencing poverty.

Having Access to Beneficial Resources

With racial equality in education, students will also have access to more resources that will benefit them. They will have the ability to take additional courses to improve their knowledge of certain subjects. Students will also have the opportunity to meet with tutors so that they can overcome any academic deficiencies and successfully complete the necessary courses to finish their schooling at both the secondary and collegiate level. Racial equality in education will also help students have access to updated libraries and technology in order to complete assignments and enhance their overall learning experiences.

Access to the Best Teachers Available

Whenever there is racial equality in education, students of all backgrounds will have access to the best teachers as well. Students can receive instruction from teachers who are knowledgeable of the latest trends in certain subjects as well as ones that are eager to assist students who need more instruction to better grasp the subject matter of their courses. With access to the best teachers, students will be better prepared for higher education as well as their future careers.

Osler’s Experiences in Education
Jonathan Osler has been one of the top advocates for racial equality in education. As a professor at the University of California Berkeley, Osler has frequently addressed racial equality in education. Throughout his career, he has looked to develop programs that help students from all backgrounds improve the quality of their education. He has also been involved in helping teachers improve their knowledge so that they can better educate students that they teach. Today, Osler continues to manage an organization that focuses on addressing social and racial justice in the educational sector as well as providing better lesson planning resources and giving educators more opportunities for their professional development.

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Careers in Education https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/news-and-noise/careers-in-education/ Wed, 29 Sep 2021 15:10:00 +0000 https://socialmediaexplorer.com/?p=39171 Careers in Education In the education field there are a number of careers that you...

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Careers in Education

In the education field there are a number of careers that you can pursue according to Jonathan Osler. When looking to pursue a career in education, it is important to consider the amount of education needed to attain employment, the salary potential and the nature of the work. It is also important to make sure that any career you pursue in education is one that you will enjoy. According to Osler, it is very important that you get into the education sector with a strong commitment to educating students and helping them reach their full academic potential and prepare them for their future.

College Professor

One of the top occupations in the education field is college professor. This occupation is also classified as a post secondary teacher. As a college professor, you will provide lectures and instruction on a specific subject or field. Along with teaching a particular subject, you also participate in research which can allow you to learn more about your field and get even more proficient in your field as well. In order to be a college professor, you will need to attain a doctorate level degree (Ph.D).

University President

Another one of the top careers in education is that of a university president. With this occupation, you will serve as the top administrator of the entire university. As the university president, you will coordinate the class schedules, approve of course offerings, oversee budgets and consult with other administrators on how to more efficiently serve the needs of both students and faculty at the college or university.

School Superintendent

As well as working in higher education, there are plenty of lucrative careers in compulsory education. One of these careers is that of a school superintendent. At this position, you will be responsible for coordinating the education in a local school district. You will oversee budgets, devise course offerings at local schools and set standards for education and graduation. This career will usually require at least a master’s degree in education or a doctorate level degree in the same field.

School Principal

Anyone who is interested in being an administrator in the education sector will also want to consider being a school principal. The principal is the top administrator of a particular school. They are responsible for managing budgets for the school, setting school rules and education standards. A principal is also involved in supervising the faculty and consulting with parents of the students.

Teacher
When you think of education, one of the first careers that comes to mind is teaching. A teacher, like Jonathan Osler, is an education professional who is responsible for providing instruction to students at a variety of levels including, elementary school, junior high school and high school. At each level, teachers are involved in teaching a certain subject to students. For elementary school teachers, they prepare young kids for middle school. Teachers at the junior high level are involved in teaching a particular subject and preparing them for high school. The highest level of teaching is at the high school level. These teachers are responsible for teaching a particular subject as well as helping students prepare for college or for their future careers.

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Why Brands Are Going Back to School https://socialmediaexplorer.com/content-sections/movers-and-makers/educational-marketing/ Tue, 29 Nov 2016 19:33:33 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=30426 I recently had a chance to meet Lori McFarling, CMO of Discovery Education. I got...

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I recently had a chance to meet Lori McFarling, CMO of Discovery Education. I got to know Lori through her inspiring presentation at the Incite Corporate Marketing Summit and I’m delighted to share what she, Discovery Education, and partner brands are doing to help foster education in our schools.

Drew: Can you give me a little background on Discovery Education?

Lori: Discovery Education is the leader in digital content for Kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students. We are transforming teaching and learning worldwide with immersive digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development, and the largest professional learning community of its kind.

The educators we partner with integrate our services into teaching and learning in ways that create modern digital learning environments that support the success of all learners. A part of the global media company Discovery Communications, we believe in the power of media to enlighten and educate.

How does translate into your work with brands?

Lori: We collaborate with Fortune 500 companies, foundations, associations and other organizations to create meaningful standards-based educational content that supports historically underfunded disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), health and wellness, and others. In this way, we are powering our partners to positively impact education on both a national and local scale.

It’s really exciting to see these folks coming into the education sector with a genuine desire to serve their communities and to leverage their expertise to support teaching and learning. Improving student outcomes is becoming a meaningful part of many organizations’ brand profiles, and we are pleased to help them accomplish their goals in a meaningful way.

Really interesting. Let’s get a bit more specific.

Lori: Working with our partners, we’ve built innovative programs that help drive authentic engagement, optimizing the school-to-home connection. It’s very grassroots and unique, especially for our brand partners who’ve seen real value by associating their brand to an issue that everybody in the country cares about: education.

There are many needs in education today and it’s gratifying to see the private sector step up to support young people with mentorship, project-based learning opportunities, and resources in areas that are traditionally underfunded.

I suspect sports brands would want to partner, right?

sports-brands

Lori: We work with a number of sports brands such as EA Sports, the NFL, the US Tennis Association, the Tiger Woods Foundation and others. For example, with EA Sports/Madden, we created a unique program that leverages the thrill of football to help young people understand core math concepts, revealing the math and science behind the game to engage kids in key concepts that they need to know. In this case, the magic of sports really helped open their minds to math and science.

Also, I’d imagine a number of brands would want to be involved in the sciences.

Lori: We have great fun collaborating with innovative organizations like 3M, Siemens, Lockheed Martin, Alcoa and others who are passionate about building the next generation of STEM leaders. Those organizations are authentically connecting their brands to efforts to support student achievement in science, technology, engineering and math, and are connecting their efforts to their pipeline & workforce development strategies.

By way of example, we have a deep partnership with 3M centered on inspiring young people to use science to solve everyday problems. Through a nationwide middle school competition, the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, we just crowned Maanasa Mendu, America’s Top Young Scientist. She is a 13-year-old who invented a way to use solar and wind energy to create power. How cool is that?

Let’s dive into the 3M case.

Lori: Sure. 3M’s brand positioning is: “Science. Applied to life.” Their core focus is the application of science to improve the lives of people around the world. They also look simultaneously at how to build their pipeline of future employees, and are committed to highlighting the importance of innovation and science, and inspiring those traits and interests amongst America’s students.

Discovery Education has partnered with them to create the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, which is the premier middle school science competition in the country. In this challenge, students compete to win $25,000, but most importantly, they are paired with real-life mentors at 3M over the summer to work on their innovations that, literally, can change the world. We’ve had winners of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge named by Fortune Magazine as Top 30 under 30 for their inventions.

Students have been featured on the Ellen Show, Fox & Friends, and ABC Nightly News; they have met the President, as well as presented to members of Congress and more. This kind of earned media supports 3M’s overall brand profile as an organization committed to the use of science to change the world.

I love this program. What else can you tell me about it?

Lori: 3M has been smart about its consistent investment in education. And it’s paying off not only with the impact they are making in the classroom, but also with those that they’d like to entice as future employees. For the first time, 3M topped the charts as the #1 place millennials consider to be the cool, dream place they’d like to work, according to the 2016 Millennial Career Survey from the National Society of High School Scholars. The marketers at 3M engage millennials and their families in initiatives that they care about.

What are some of the keys to success when working in your space?

Lori: Bottomline, from a brand perspective, you need to engage with educators authentically, and need to do so in a manner that supports young people everywhere, not just in certain zip codes. Discovery Education provides educators in schools across the country with core curriculum and content that relates to the real-world with tools, resources, and professional learning opportunities that respect their expertise, helps them meet the challenges of their jobs, and celebrates the potential of every child, everywhere. I feel that our intimate knowledge of the education space, and our deep connection to educators, really has driven our success.

I’d imagine teachers, in particular, are tough gatekeepers.

teachers

Lori: At the end of the day, the measure of our success is based on the success of teachers and students. If they win, we all win. We are excited to see the number of companies that are reaching out to us to have meaningful dialogue about how they can best leverage their organization’s expertise to help support education.

We all know that regardless of where you live, providing support, tools and opportunities to our young people is one of the most important things we can do. To that end, yes, educators should have very high expectations for the kind of support that best sets their kids on the path to success. We rely a great deal on our teacher community, which is the largest of its kind. They work day in and day out with our nation’s kids and are very vocal about how corporate America can best partner with them on their important work.

I’m curious how you designed programs that actually make it home to the parents.

Lori: All of the programs that we build with corporate partners are available to students, teachers, families and communities at no cost. They support real needs in the classroom and are implemented and activated through educators. We know that learning continues after the bell rings and that parents and caregivers play a critical role in the learning process, so for the majority of our programs, we create parent and family extensions that are also free of charge. To complete the circle, we utilize a variety of engagement platforms, whether it’s TV, online, social or other, to help build awareness and encourage parents to check out these initiatives.

How do you encourage your partners to measure the effectiveness of these programs?

graduates

Lori: As I said earlier, our first and most important metric is the value that teachers and students place on the program’s impact on youth achievement. Second, each partner has their own unique goals and metrics that are important to them as an organization.

We work closely with our partners to crystalize what measurements matter, and then build our initiatives with those in mind. We don’t have a cookie-cutter approach to measurement. Everybody has different KPIs that they look at. The one metric they all share, however, is the desire to connect their brand to meaningfully impacting today’s youth while supporting the success of all learners — and isn’t that the most important measurement of all?

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One Girl – #GivingTuesday https://socialmediaexplorer.com/givingtuesday/one-girl-givingtuesday/ https://socialmediaexplorer.com/givingtuesday/one-girl-givingtuesday/#comments Tue, 30 Jul 2013 18:00:55 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=22176 I will never forget the day I learned about One Girl and the work they...

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I will never forget the day I learned about One Girl and the work they do.

I was in Portland, Oregon for World Domination Summit and I saw this group of women AND men in school girl dresses.

My mind is very open to people expressing themselves, but I could tell something was going on, so I was curious to find out more.

Turns out that it was a One Girl fundraising event called #DoItInADress where they encourage anyone to do something to raise funds, but to do it in the uniform a typical African school girl would wear. The genius of this is that it instantly attracts attention when people (like me) see it and ask what is going on.

one-girl

One Girl is a non-profit organization that’s changing the world, one girl at a time.

They provide education scholarships to the most vulnerable girls in Sierra Leone.

It costs only $20 a month to give a girl access to education and their current goals are to provide 600 education scholarships to girls by 2014 and also train 55 LaunchPad Champions to sell affordable eco-friendly sanitary pads in rural communities.

The truth is that when you educate a girl, she’ll change the world and that is why they are working on changing the world one girl at a time.

I remember when I first heard of organizations like this I always wondered why the focus on girls. What about the boys out there?

Take a few minutes to research this and you’ll quickly realize that boys get to go to school in most cultures, while the girls stay home to clean and work. They are never given the chance to think beyond their front door or walking to the watering hole.

There are many ways you can get involved that go beyond opening your wallet.

This October they will once again be launching their Do It In A Dress campaign so stay tuned to see how you can look a little silly while raising funds to get girls into schools. Their blog is a great way to stay on top of the latest work they are doing. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

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Room to Read – #GivingTuesday https://socialmediaexplorer.com/givingtuesday/room-to-read-givingtuesday/ https://socialmediaexplorer.com/givingtuesday/room-to-read-givingtuesday/#comments Tue, 28 May 2013 18:00:34 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=21111 I first heard Room to Read‘s founder John Wood speak years ago at Blackbaud’s Conference...

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I first heard Room to Read‘s founder John Wood speak years ago at Blackbaud’s Conference for Nonprofits. As a burned out Microsoft executive, John went on a trek through Nepal. While there, he happened to visit a school.

And the rest is history.

The conditions of the school were horrible. Worse, the only books they had were cast offs from backpackers, including a Danielle Steele romance novel and a Lonely Planet Guide to Mongolia.

Room to Read for SocialMediaExplorer's #GivingTuesdaySince 1998, they’ve filled the shelves of thousands of schools and libraries in 10 countries with English books and their innovative Local Language Publishing program that allows local authors and illustrators to be published in their countries giving the children the opportunity to read books in their own languages.

They also have made a push to help girls providing them with the hope of a new life. I love that John and his team blend social good with business savvy in Room to Read by setting up a system that was both helpful for local schools and scalable for expansion. I particularly remember measuring openings along business models like Starbucks’ openings. They also have a rigorous tracking of results.

For the last 15 years, Room to Read has successfully accomplished its twin objectives of literacy and gender equality in education.

Make a donation today

Give to Room to Read at their donation page.

To learn more, on the Room to Read. Or check out this video here:

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Social Media Explorers Head to Nashville https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-explorers-head-to-nashville/ https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/social-media-explorers-head-to-nashville/#comments Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:00:59 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=12000 Editor’s Note: Andrea Cook has joined the writing staff here at SME as our event...

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Editor’s Note: Andrea Cook has joined the writing staff here at SME as our event correspondent. She will be blogging and Tweeting from Explore Nashville tomorrow (and is even being trusted with my Twitter account to share insights from the day). So to introduce her, I thought she should write a little preview of what she’s expecting tomorrow. She’s a little gratuitous on making me sound good below, but she’ll get over that as she gets to know me better. Heh. Enjoy!

Nashville. A little bit of country, and a whole lot of rock-n-roll and soul – when it comes to music and food. And on Friday this week, Nashville will be loud, rockin and groovin with a star-studded line up of social media mavericks. These razzle-dazzle digital marketers will give it all they got, and that’s a lot, to help make the world a better place when it comes to best practices for business growth. Agencies, consultants and in-house marketers are planning to attend this event and I am counting down to Friday’s full day of Explore in Nashville.

My Expectations for Explore Nashville:

Engagement

I’m looking forward to the engagement from the networking opportunities in Nashville. As a consultant, I have a real need to build real relationships in my industry. For me, it isn’t about the quantity of Twitter followers, it is about the quality of the relationships. Explore reaches out and draws in high quality professionals and provides the IRL (in real life) opportunity for handshakes and eye contact. Anyone in media knows, real relationships, engagement and conversations cannot exist in 140 characters alone.

Anyone who knows Jason Falls understands his high standard of quality. As the event promoter and host, he will certainly draw in a level of professionals who are up to snuff, not in a snobby, pretentious way, but in a genuine make-me-smarter brain exchange.

Networking with high quality professionals is important to me. Also, I’m hoping to learn something that I don’t already know. That’s right, I said it. I’m hoping and expecting to learn.

Depth

I’ve attended several social media conferences in the past year and frankly, I’m bored with the content that the majority of the speakers have offered. I went to SXSW earlier this year with 22,000 other media professionals. Fortunately I had a press pass that paid for my registration, because if I would have paid out of pocket for some of those light-weight, self promoting sessions, I would have been pissed. The real value I gained from SXSW this year was in the networking nirvana.

I realize that SXSW did have a lot of amazing speakers peppered throughout the full week of interactive sessions, some speakers who will be presenting at Explore, in fact. The event was enormous and overwhelming; finding excellent content at SXSW often felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, much like finding meaningful and unique content in the blogosphere can feel at times.

Bored of all the basic 101 level of tips on blogging, tweeting, pinning and the latest B, I’m confident in the quality and delivery of content each of the Explore speakers will share. Jason wouldn’t allow just any joe-blow to present smoke and mirror crap. Remember, Jason wrote a book to debunk all that is bullshit when it comes to social media. I’m expecting to get bonafide brilliance from the experienced digital media professionals as I search for a level of content that stretches my mind and gives me hands-on tips and best practices in today’s marcom world.

Clarity

In today’s wild world of technology, the rapid and frequent changes in media can be maddening. It requires a seasoned sage to size it all up and give clear insight and direction. One of the best storytellers I know is Jason Falls. His clear and concise method of communication makes understanding the most complex problems and solutions easy and enjoyable.

After all, isn’t that the gold nugget we are all searching for? Clear communication. Effective communication that helps us to understand so that we can better define the real issues, apply techniques, sell the value, reach the goals, get the results for our clients – for us.

I expect to get clarity from the subject matter presented by the speakers. Topics that will range from ROI, Digital Engagement, Analytics, Targeting, Attraction, Retention, Customer Service and so much more will be discussed in one clear and concise workday, allowing future workdays to be more successful. I’m looking forward to the razor sharp advice and storytelling by Jason and his rodeo of presenters!

Three Calls to Be An Explorer

#1. It’s not too late for you to join in on this event. Click here  to register for Friday’s event at the Embassy Suites Airport Nashville. It starts with a continental breakfast at 8:00. You will NOT want to miss the morning’s keynote speaker, Amber Naslund. There are a lot of reasons why Amber was one of Forbes’ Top 50 Social Media Influencers and she will awaken and enlighten the Explorers as the event kicks off at 8:45 a.m.

#2. If you aren’t able to attend Explore in Nashville, how about registering for one of the next events, like the one in Minneapolis in August, or Portland in October? How about Irvine in November? See GoToExplore.co for more details.

#3. Want to get some of the top hot takeaways of Explore Nashville? I’ll be covering the event live and you can access some of the valuable insight shared throughout the day while you sit at your desk. You won’t get the face-to-face interaction and stimulating conversations with top-tier leaders and peers, but you can grow your brain from key points that I will be sharing online. Coverage will be pushed to Twitter via @JasonFalls and  with the #GoToExplore hashtag. In addition to the tweets, I will amplify some of the goodies on Storify and will be curating the sessions as future articles here on Social Media Explore. Check it out.

 

 

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Education Is The New Marketing https://socialmediaexplorer.com/digital-marketing/education-is-the-new-marketing/ https://socialmediaexplorer.com/digital-marketing/education-is-the-new-marketing/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 13:00:03 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=9913 The internet has democratized education and businesses should take notice.  You are in business because...

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The internet has democratized education and businesses should take notice.  You are in business because you have some area of expertise.  Sharing your expertise is a way to help you build your brand and provide value. By using a combination of digital and offline tools, business can take advantage of the opportunity to add teaching to the marketing mix.

I’ve been reading The Education of Millionaires, a book by Michael Ellsberg that proposes that the best investment in education is one that offers lifelong, relevant knowledge that will make you financially successful.  He urges people to find mentors and experts to teach the skills they need, rather than investing six figures in a traditional college education that is unlikely to contribute to their ability to earn a living.

I have mixed feelings about suggesting that people forgo or drop out of college, but I believe we are seeing a trend worth noting.  People are looking to non-traditional sources to learn from. Education and business are merging.  How can you take advantage of this trend and  integrate education into your marketing mix?

Your product is a commodity. Education differentiates.

People can buy any pair of shoes, any skin cream, or any design service. The difference between a commodity and a product that people line up for, is that a great product adds meaning and purpose to peoples’ lives.  As a brand, your expertise in the product you sell — in every way it affects the people who use  it — sets  you apart.  If you sell shoes, you could teach fashion or fitness. If your product is food, teach nutrition. If it’s paint, teach design.

In a fast-paced world, relevant information matters.

People want to keep up with technology, trends, culture and innovation in the areas that matter to them.  They need a source that helps them stay informed.

Louis Vuitton knows that their customers are interested in travel, art, culture and design.  Through their digital marketing efforts, they share information about  the wider world that gives meaning to their products.

Consumers need information to choose when there are too many options.

Overwhelmed by choice and complexity, people freeze up and fail to make any decision. Teaching gives them a reason to choose you.  I recently walked into a Home Depot to purchase a space heater. I had literally nothing to base a decision on and had concerns about the safety of these devices. I read what was on the cartons, but left confused without buying anything.

If retailers or manufacturers could see their jobs as education, it would make it easier for shoppers to make purchases. Manufacturers can create QR codes leading to videos that explain how their products work and address safety concerns, or demonstrate the product in use, showing the best choice for different types of household needs. Retailers could hire product educators rather than people who move goods around on shelves.

Education is a form of curation.  

Ironically, in a world with too much information, teaching is more important than ever.  There’s a reason that being a geek has become fashionable.  Knowing and caring deeply about a subject and spending a lot of time and energy on it is what being a geek is about. If you can focus and select the information for the connoisseurs and geeks among your customers, they’ll flock to you.

Educational content improves SEO.

Having a blog allows you to teach.  When your blog answers the questions that people have about your product, it establishes your authority, helps gain the trust of your audience and is great for SEO.  When you answer the questions that people have about your product; when you address the issues that concern people who use your product; when you discuss the ways in which your product helps make peoples’ lives better, you are answering the questions that they type into the Google search box.

Good teaching encourages engagement.

If engagement is the holy grail of social media, then teaching is the path.  People hang out longer when you teach them something pertinent to their needs. They ask questions and get involved with you and the rest of your community when they are there to learn. Learning requires participation.

Education makes you memorable.

You always remember the person who taught you something you use your whole life.  You remember the teachers who had an impact on you, even if they taught you twenty years ago.  If you want to stand out from the sea of brands, be a trusted source of valuable information.

Education is a source of revenue.

If you’re a consultant, an agency or coach, you don’t need to give all information away for free.  In addition to charging for your time, some information can be packaged into e-books, webinars, and access to learning communities.

The changing face of education offers opportunity.

In the same way that the dissemination of music is no longer owned by a handful of music companies and book publishing is no longer controlled by a handful of book publishers, education is no longer the exclusive realm of large, formal institutions.  I believe that the democratization of education is going to cause changes that are as radical as those we have seen in these other industries.  If you’re a college charging $50,000 a year for a degree, these changes may be of concern. But, if you’re an expert in any area of knowledge that people care about, it’s an opportunity.

Related

Education Is The Key To Effective Referral Marketing by John Jantsch for Intuit

 

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How You Can Help End Cyber Bullying https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/how-to-stop-cyber-bullying/ https://socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/how-to-stop-cyber-bullying/#comments Fri, 15 Oct 2010 10:00:46 +0000 http://socialmediaexp.wpengine.com/?p=4723 “Who did you help today?” It is simple question, one that inspires empathy, encourages us...

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“Who did you help today?”

It is simple question, one that inspires empathy, encourages us to think beyond ourselves, and when answered demonstrates the true power the web holds.

For most of us, social media has changed our lives in some meaningful way because we were helped by someone. Collectively social media is changing the world for good because it demands and rewards individuals and communities who work feverishly to answer this question.
I want to turn our attention and conversation toward a community that desperately needs our help – bullied students.

  • Did you know that nearly 1 in 3 students are involved in bullying?
  • Did you know that while school violence as a whole is declining, bullying behaviors have increased by 5%?
  • Did you know that kids who are obese, gay or have disabilities are up to 63% more likely to be bullied than other children?
  • Did you know that last month alone, there were multiple suicide deaths as a result of bullying?

Bullying is an epidemic. Lots of tormentors. Lots of victims. Each one is somebody’s child.

Like the global recession or the fight to end poverty, cyber crime is now everyone’s problem. It impacts every business and every person in the world who has an Internet connection, owns a computer, or who believes the social Web represents the best not the worst of the human spirit.

The social web is an opportunity to create not just “conversation,” but movements. We need a movement now more than ever. We have the platform and the power to use technology for a higher purpose and a greater good. Our tweets, posts, stories, and lessons can give hope to the hopeless and voice to those silenced by these crimes.

No matter how you have been touched or impacted by bullying, you can make a valuable contribution to changing environments and cultures that are conducive to bullying and promoting the right behaviors for all digital citizens.

Please consider joining the movement or starting your own by:

  • Writing a blog post (If you podcast, please record a podcast. If you video, release a video)
  • Sending a tweet using the Hashtag  #stopcyberbullying
  • Being an advocate for the effective use of technology and the web as there are many who advocate blocking everything
  • Being a resource for  your community (Here’s a GREAT list)
  • Modeling your own digital citizenship – Describe your “Code of Conduct”
  • Sharing your story

However you chose to help, DON’T BE SILENT!  Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” We must talk to our children. If you don’t have the right words yet, read this amazing letter from a mom to her daughter.

Be inspired. Then go share your inspiration with someone else. When it comes to bullying, your inspiration and advice can mean, the life of a child.

So, who and how will you help today?

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Photo Credit: Google Images by compasscayman.com

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