Archive for November, 2009

In this video I describe how educators can engage their students in the creation of social media – photos, videos, podcasts, and blog articles – as a learning activity. Students likely already have the tools and experience using social media. Educators can harness this experience to create content for learning and to share with future student groups. This video was recorded at the 2009 National Association of EMS Educators Symposium. In the comments are share how you are engaging students to create social media as an education activity. Also I talked about social media as an elearning activity in my 2009 EMS Expo presentations.

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Learn more about social media use by Emergency Response Agencies visit PIOSocialMediaTraining.com

In George Orwell‘s dystopian novel Nineteen-Eighty-Four, he described a society that was constantly being monitored through pervasive government surveillance. While we have seen some similar governmental initiatives, such as New York City’s own “ring of steel“, the existence of a Big Brother entity overseeing us all remains largely elusive.

With the proliferation of smartphones, social media tools, and the near instantaneous ability to create media the fact is we are working and living in an age of Little Brother. This is where the average person can create media that can garner wide distribution that previously was reserved for those with vast resources that required large amounts of money to maintain.

Here are 5 ways that we as agencies need to change the way we operate in this environment of Little Brother:

• Establish An Official Presence – Every organization needs to establish an official presence if for no other reason than to ward off impostors
• Personal Accountability – We must stress that every member of the organization is a representative of the organization and must be personally accountable for their actions both on and off duty
• Respond To The Negative – Every agency should be prepared to respond to social media that can place them in a negative light just as the TSA did
• Provide Education – Every agency must provide education and guidance to its members as to what is acceptable and what is not acceptable both online and offline through clear policies and educational opportunities
• Provide Accurate Information – The easiest way to squash the rumor mill is to provide accurate information in a transparent fashion

If you haven’t begun preparations in dealing with this new environment, what are you waiting for? Still not a believer? Luckily I’ve got a webinar for you…

Free Webinar: 5 Reasons and Methods For PIOs To Develop and Distribute Social Media Webinar on 11.11.09 at 10:00am EST

Discussion about social networking, elearning, and social media for emergency responders that I had with Heather Caspi at the 2009 EMS Expo. During the video I discuss the two sessions I presented at EMS Expo – emerging trends in online education and use of social media for emergency response agencies. (find out more about my EMS Expo sessions and view a PDF of the lecture notes)

For more videos and social media content from the 2009 EMS Expo visit EMSExpoLive.com. The EMS Expo social media team enhanced a live event with blogging, podcasts, streaming video, and video casts. For information on having a Social Media team at your industry conference contact me.

Listen to a discussion I had with Mike Waraich about about social media and emergency communications for first responders with a special focus on police for the Law Enforcement 2.0 Podcast. We talk about how police can get up and running with social media, where to begin with social media, and the best practices to maintain an effective social media presence.

PIOSocialMediaTraining.com co-founders Greg Friese and David Konig are available for media interviews, podcasts, conference presentations, and webinars. Contact us to discuss you article, project, webinar, or conference.