{"id":474,"date":"2022-03-17T15:26:04","date_gmt":"2022-03-17T22:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/learn-lab\/?p=474"},"modified":"2022-03-17T15:26:06","modified_gmt":"2022-03-17T22:26:06","slug":"5-tips-for-shining-a-social-media-spotlight-on-your-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.autodesk.com\/learn-lab\/2022\/03\/17\/5-tips-for-shining-a-social-media-spotlight-on-your-students\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips for Shining a Social Media Spotlight on Your Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Kids, pets, and food are subjects that dominate social media, no question. But if you\u2019re an educator, there can be many upsides to expanding your social media interactions beyond those categories to start promoting your students and their classroom projects. Showing off the good work going on in your classes can help recruit new students, build better relationships with parents, and form connections to community and industry supporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating social media posts is easy enough: You can shoot some quick photos or videos with your smartphone and add some text. But the most vital first step to creating effective social media is clarifying what you want to achieve. What are your goals? What audience are you trying to reach?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you\u2019d like to boost student and parent engagement through content that highlights your manufacturing and machining classes. \u201cStudents and parents love to see what other students are accomplishing\u2014and parents love to share posts about their kids,\u201d says Deema Kharuf, Autodesk Education social media specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or perhaps you\u2019d like to change parent and community perceptions<\/a> about what manufacturing actually looks like today. \u201cWe can show parents and students that manufacturing facilities are bright and beautiful\u2014not the dark and dingy places they used to be,\u201d says Jason Roth, Autodesk Education account manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media is also a good tool to recruit more students\u2014or show school and community leaders the value of your teaching. Whatever your goals are, here are 5 tips to sharpen your social media skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Choose the Right Social Media Channels<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Of the big players in the social media world, a general consensus is that Facebook and Instagram are solid starting points, especially for educators looking to reach parents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edward Doherty\u2014a lead instructor in precision metalworking at Suncoast Technical College (STC) in Sarasota, Florida\u2014says that, when possible, teachers should post on the school\u2019s social media accounts. If your school doesn\u2019t have active Facebook or Instagram accounts, consider starting up your own accounts dedicated to promoting classroom projects and students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doherty shows students at work on his YouTube channel, CNC Machinist Education Network<\/a>, which he created to share skills videos. The YouTube channel page has a link to Doherty\u2019s blog<\/a>, where he posts articles about career opportunities in manufacturing, along with links to STC\u2019s Facebook page<\/a> about the school\u2019s precision machining and CNC automation program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Show Students at Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that you\u2019ll likely need to get students\u2019 permission before using their images online\u2014be sure to check your school\u2019s policies. Then, for engaging content, capture your students at work on their assignments. \u201cAction shots work best,\u201d says Kharuf. \u201cDon\u2019t line students up and pose them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

William Rakonczay, an advanced manufacturing and engineering instructor at Orleans Career and Technical Center in Medina, New York, agrees. \u201cThe posts that get the most likes from parents and students are the ones showing someone making something cool in Fusion 360 or AutoCAD\u2014like a video of a student explaining what they\u2019re drawing,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ll tag the parents in the posts to make sure they see it.\u201d Rakonczay posts pictures and videos from his advanced manufacturing and engineering class on Instagram<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3.<\/strong> Highlight Student and Alumni Accomplishments<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Showcasing student wins can also help your classroom overall\u2014and increase community engagement. \u201cShow that students are doing great work, like getting their certifications,\u201d Roth suggests. \u201cThat can help with accreditation and budgeting.\u201d Make sure to tag students when possible\u2014just as parents want to share their kids\u2019 accomplishments, students will likely share posts that they\u2019re featured in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can also be inspiring to show what students\u2014current and former\u2014are doing in the real world. When Rakonczay recently visited Voss Manufacturing near his school\u2019s campus, he created a Facebook post<\/a> about current students interning there, as well as a Voss employee who\u2019s a graduate of Rakonczay\u2019s program. \u201cIt\u2019s a good way to show who\u2019s getting jobs,\u201d Roth says. \u201cA great idea would be to use a quote from that former student in the post.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n