Social Media Management Training for Teachers in Altai Region: Educators to Master Control of Their Social Network Profiles
Teachers from the Altai region dive into the digital spotlight
In a collaborative effort by ANO "Dialogue of Regions" and the Center for Strategic Regional Projects (CSRP), over 200 educators from five Siberian regions embraced the interregional project "Personal Brand of a Teacher in Social Networks." The Altai region, in particular, sent ten lucky educators to this digital odyssey.
The Altai educators took on tasks, received feedback, and exchanged experiences in the comfort of their classrooms – all online.
Irina Bzhitskikh, a teacher at Biisk Lyceum-Interнаt, passionately remarked, "I was captured by the vibe and energy, and loved the course structure. I could rewatch and listen whenever, fitting it into my schedule. I've started creating videos, posts, and engaging cards, and set personal goals to implement in practice."
Once faceless on social media, the Altai teachers stepped up their digital game, personalizing their profiles by defining who they are and what they wish to share.
However, not everyone in the Altai region grasped the project's purpose, with eyebrows raised at the prospect of teachers maintaining social media profiles as part of their workload. Skeptical voices arose:
- "Teachers have their hands full with the kids! Education standards are dropping year after year, and now we're expecting them to manage social media? That's just a bizarre dreamworld!"
- "When teachers are already overworked, it's just another unneeded burden. A teacher's job is teaching.Their social media presence is up to their own personal preferences."
- "What business does a teacher have with a personal brand? Is this a saleswoman trying to lure customers? Or network marketing, finding new partners?"
Despite these reservations, the CSRP reassured that the project was entirely voluntary, and ran smoothly without disrupting the educators' main duties. To top it off, the project participants gave positive feedback, expressing their interest in signing up for more projects.
Social-media profiles of educators in the Altai region transformed from being faceless to personal, as they learned to define their identities and share their ideas within the interregional project "Personal Brand of a Teacher in Social Networks." However, despite the project's voluntary nature, certain skeptics questioned its relevance, worrying that it would add to teachers' workload and divert attention from their primary duty of education.
