Technology Bootcamp

Social Media, Counselors and the Law Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase

Social Networking • Examples - Twitter - Facebook - Tumblr - YouTube

Staff Use • Causes for Concern ‾ Drug/Alcohol Use ‾ Sexual Inappropriateness ‾ Inappropriate Communication with Students ‾ Inappropriate Communication about Students ‾ Selling School Property

Classroom applications • Communication with kids: ‾ Scheduling, assignments, etc. ‾ Homework collaboration and feedback • Collaboration in classroom ‾ Instant polls ‾ Substantive content • Delivery of content ‾ Supplement lectures ‾ “flipping”

Our Warnings to Educators • Separate Personal and Professional ‾ H & S School Law ‾ Karen Haase • Do not friend students (unless you have independent relationship with kid) • Think twice, post once • Disable ‾ Tagging and Geo-tagging ‾ Friends of friends accessing photos ‾ Friend Facebook

Social Media and Students • Board Policy • Confidentiality • FERPA • Educating Students

Policy Considerations • Does your board have a policy?

• If not, ask for one • Policy database: http://tinyurl.com/yar74dj

Confidentiality • Never post any student-related information to personal pages • Post only non-protected information to professional pages • Pictures – Better not to identify students by first and last name – Check your policy – Check your administrators’ feelings

FERPA • Does not prevent you from using social media to assist students!

• Applies only to “education records” –“directly related” to student –maintained by an educational institution • Check your board’s policy on “directory information”

Directory Information • Name and grade • Address • Telephone number, including the student’s cell phone number • E-mail address • Date and place of birth • Dates of attendance • The image or likeness of student • Participation in activities and sports

• Degrees and awards received • Weight and height of members of athletic teams • Work published onto the Internet • Classroom assignment and/or home room teacher • Student ID number • Facebook ID • Twitter handle

Educating Students • Protecting Children in the TwentyFirst Century Act (2008) • FCC Now Enforcing • Required schools to educate on: – appropriate on-line behavior, – interacting on social networking websites & chat rooms – cyberbullying

Educating Students (con’t) • Must have board policy • Does not have to include specifics as to the particular program • FCC will not detail specific procedures or curriculum

Social Media, Counselors and the Law Karen Haase Harding & Shultz (402) 434-3000 khaase@hslegalfirm.com H & S School Law @KarenHaase