wmea advocacy
Your Digital Partner Ryan Gutsch, WMEA Advocacy Committee Member
Can you feel it – the data swirling around you? It is amazing how much information is wait- ing to be consumed. As we explore tech- nology in this issue, I beg you to con- sider technology as
your partner in terms of advocacy.
One way you can use technology as your partner is by letting social media work for you. Have you noticed social media posts that are some kind of graphic tend to get noticed more? I encourage you to consider a graphic media campaign for whatever you post on social media. Words say a lot, however they can get lost in the black and white of scrolling through text. If you haven’t yet, get yourself an account with Canva. If you sign up as a school teacher with Canva for Education, you will be able to access a bunch more resources, fonts and graphics for FREE outside of their normal free account. It is very easy to use. With their editor, you can make some templates
that you can simply edit. You could start with something as simple as a reminder about the pep band performance for tonight or that lessons will begin on this certain date. Don’t forget to brand that graphic with a custom logo – which is another thing you can build in Canva. When people consistently see a logo, it will get noticed more frequently.
Perhaps an event is coming up you’d like to promote. You can use Canva to put it on social media and on posters of course, but here are some things you might not have thought of doing. You can change the back- ground of your computer or smart board so your graphic is shown every period of every day. Maybe you have a scrolling an- nouncements display in your school – make a graphic for your event and send it to the person in charge of that display. Maybe you have a digital sign for your school that you can advertise the event to the community. Don’t forget to expose your event to as many people as you can.
Maybe you have pictures from an event that you wish to share. Make yourself a picture
slide presentation with Canva or one of the many web apps that offer the service for free and share that out. You could even share some audio of your group performing in the background of the video to make it a full multimedia experience.
What if you need volunteers to work at this upcoming event? Never fear when you have technology tools like SignUpGenius at your disposal. What better way to get people involved in your program than actually getting them to your event as a volunteer. Solo & Ensemble is one popular example of an event for which you would need vol- unteers. Consider a tool like SignUpGenius to facilitate your network of people.
Keeping your program in the public eye and showing the community everything you do can rally support in good times and in bad times. Try your best to promote your programs and don’t forget how your technological partners can help you do that.
Ryan Gutsch is the band director and technology coordinator at the Owen-Withee School District.
Email:
rgutsch@owk12.org
This is a student-created logo that the Owen-Withee Bands have adopted. It features their mascot holding a treble clef surrounded by the first lines of their school song.
12
An advertisment for a beginning band selection night.
April 2024
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