SPN is an extension of PTA websites
Many schools have PTA/PTC websites and often there is a question about how SPN fits into the overall communication plan and if SPN is a replacement for a PTA website.
There are many website services available out there that will help you launch a site for your district, school, class, PTA, etc (ex: using myteacherpages.com). These services will help you create a site that falls into the genre of Web 1.0 sites. These are sites that typically PUSH information and are managed/controlled by a "single" source (for example the PTA). It is important to note that SPN is not and will never be a replacement for these sites.
However, in some cases, SPN can be a "poor-man's" PTA/school site. If the school (ex: small elementary, pre-K, day care center) does not have IT resources or has a budget crunch, SPN can be used to provide information to the parent community. Ideally though, a larger school will have its own PTA website.
SPN fits into the new genre of sites called Web 2.0 - these are typically built to promote social interaction. The user community creates and shares content rather than there being a "central" content owner. In the PreK-12 school application that SPN serves, there is a possibility that some information may overlap between the PTA site and SPN. However, SPN is much more relevant when you use it to foster interaction amongst the school community - Ex:
(1) for signing-up volunteers for a carnival/festival (many people entering their own availability/interest into an online sign-up sheet and being able to see the current status of what tasks are available, which in turn depends on choices made by other people),
(2) for information dissemination/exchange at the class level - where there are many sources - each room parent being the driver, but where there is also feedback through sign-ups/comments from other class parents.
SPN also connects the parent community through a district/city-to-classroom level "directory" which is tied to user created & controlled profiles - thereby enabling users to get to know local families with shared interests/needs. These types of sites have been used in many other segments with great success (Colleges - Facebook; Business - Linkedin; etc).
So the bottom line is - SPN is attempting to bring new technology/ideas to the school/parent community, and it should be considered as an extension of a PTA website and not a replacement. Ideally, your school will have a PTA website and the school community will also get closely connected to each other through a social web service such as SPN.
There are many website services available out there that will help you launch a site for your district, school, class, PTA, etc (ex: using myteacherpages.com). These services will help you create a site that falls into the genre of Web 1.0 sites. These are sites that typically PUSH information and are managed/controlled by a "single" source (for example the PTA). It is important to note that SPN is not and will never be a replacement for these sites.
However, in some cases, SPN can be a "poor-man's" PTA/school site. If the school (ex: small elementary, pre-K, day care center) does not have IT resources or has a budget crunch, SPN can be used to provide information to the parent community. Ideally though, a larger school will have its own PTA website.
SPN fits into the new genre of sites called Web 2.0 - these are typically built to promote social interaction. The user community creates and shares content rather than there being a "central" content owner. In the PreK-12 school application that SPN serves, there is a possibility that some information may overlap between the PTA site and SPN. However, SPN is much more relevant when you use it to foster interaction amongst the school community - Ex:
(1) for signing-up volunteers for a carnival/festival (many people entering their own availability/interest into an online sign-up sheet and being able to see the current status of what tasks are available, which in turn depends on choices made by other people),
(2) for information dissemination/exchange at the class level - where there are many sources - each room parent being the driver, but where there is also feedback through sign-ups/comments from other class parents.
SPN also connects the parent community through a district/city-to-classroom level "directory" which is tied to user created & controlled profiles - thereby enabling users to get to know local families with shared interests/needs. These types of sites have been used in many other segments with great success (Colleges - Facebook; Business - Linkedin; etc).
So the bottom line is - SPN is attempting to bring new technology/ideas to the school/parent community, and it should be considered as an extension of a PTA website and not a replacement. Ideally, your school will have a PTA website and the school community will also get closely connected to each other through a social web service such as SPN.
posted by CZ at 1:54 PM
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