Nov 9, 2012

Using a Facebook Fan Page to Engage Parents

There are so many ways to promote our student’s art creations with parents and other community members, from partnering with local business to displaying students art work on various online sites, such as Artsonia. We work extra hard to get our students artwork out there to advocate for our programs, build student confidence and validate what we are doing each and every day. One easy way to share the happenings of your art room is to create a classroom Facebook page.

Creating a classroom Facebook page is a great way to use social media to connect to parents, who are already using these forms of social media. Parents can like your classroom Facebook page, which allows them to received updates that you post to your classroom Facebook page, without having to “Friend” anyone! This helps to keep your personal Facebook account separate from your professional account. It also brings parents updates about your art room activities directly to their news feed.

Check out this short tutorial to see how to Create a Fan Page.

I hope this tutorial helps you to see how social media, such as Facebook, can be used within your own classroom. It is great when I post something to our classroom Facebook page and seconds later a parent comments or “Likes” the image, website, or YouTube clip. This type of sharing would not happen just through email. So create your own classroom Facebook page today and keep parents engaged in your art room activities!

Do you have a classroom Facebook page? If so, share out the link in the comments below! Let’s Connect!

What questions or hesitations do you have about creating a Facebook Fan Page?

Denise

Yes! I do…I teach at a middle school: the url is: facebook.com/SPMSArt. I’m in the process of ‘getting the word out”, and hopefully the words will make it’s way to parents, a few students-I promote their art, and hopefully will get some advocacy words out as well!
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Hello Denise,
  Thanks for sharing your classroom Facebook page! I just “Liked” it. I hope it does make its way to parents!
Vicky Siegel

Unfortunately, we cannot have blogs or facebook accounts (WI art teacher) due to all of the changes last year!! But- we get a “sharepoint” site on our school websites. You can’t be creative at all, but I can add fun web links, info., and pictures of student work. And- I also use Artsonia.
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Hello Vicky,
  That is interesting to hear! What changes happened last year to prevent WI art teachers from having facebook or blogs? Glad to know you are still adding some fun to your “sharepoint” site!
  - Vicky Siegel
    
    I am sure it is not all WI teachers, but our district went to the extreme with all of the changes last year with no unions. It is slowly getting better.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1624715352 Alicia Buck

Hi Chelsie, I teach after school art programs in two different districts. What kind of permission form did you use in order to be able to use pictures of students on your page? I’ve been considering launching a web page but the logistics are daunting! (All the domain names I want are taken!!!!) This might be an excellent way for me to test the waters.
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Alicia, we actually have a general media permission slip (photos, videos, & field trips) that parents sign at the start of the school year. I just checked with our amazing secretaries to see if there were any students in which I could not post their photo. I wish you the best in launching your web page! This would be a great way to share what you are doing in your after school art programs with students, parents, and the community!
Leah

Just started one yesterday and hoping to get the word out to parents this week at conferences!
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Great Leah! What a great time to share with parents!
Novak Amanda

The district I am currently in does not forbid using Facebook for such things -but they also do not encourage it. So, instead of making one directly about my classroom, I made a facebook page for my Blog. This way both parents and the art community can easily find information about what is going on in my room without it being directly tied to the district. I am currently being very careful about pictures that have students in it – I mostly post picture of just artwork or if there are students – it is cropped in such a way that most couldn’t recognize the student.

I love the facebook page so far – as it is a GREAT way to involve the community. My favorite part is that it is two way communication. Most forms of communication with the community is one way – me putting things out. This way, parents can reply or like projects. I am trying to slowly convince my district that Facebook can be used for good and is a great way to connect and share with parents without crossing personal lines.

Here is my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/msnovakorganizedchaos
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Novak, I completely agree that it is a great form of two way communication! I hope your district can see it’s value through your facebook page. We actually have a district facebook page in which our technology staff run and it is a wonderful way to keep the community informed on what is happening K-12 in our district.
  
  Here is the link if you would like to share with your school: http://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/WaverlyShellrockSchools?__user=100001852332597
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1474531421 Connie Brady

I have a facebook page and website for our art program: Art Heritage (Colorado) and a website: http://www.artheritageprogram.org We have 24 elementary schools but only 2 have art teachers on staff. In the rest of the schools we have trained art volunteers who bring art history and art lessons into the classroom. I use the FB page to keep the volunteers informed about what is happening, but thanks to your post, I plan to include more photos of training and images of student work. Thanks!
- http://www.theartofed.com/ Chelsie Meyer
  
  Wow Connie! I commend you on runing and organizing art programs for 24 schools! I could see where Facebook would be a great tool to keep everyone in the loop.
http://www.odigma.com/ Facebook Fans

Thanks for sharing an insightful article on ways to use Facebook fan page to engage parents. Indeed, sharing attractive/eye-catching images with content is one of keys to successful Facebook marketing.