KaKoo

David Hartstein is a partner at JG Visual, an Internet strategy company that works with organizations to develop and implement their online presence. You can connect with David on the JG Visual Facebook Page.

The word “Facebook,” so ubiquitous across the world, is enough to make any educator uneasy. When I was teaching at an elementary school in New York, the topic of social media came up from time to time. And generally when it did, it was about how teachers were being fired for posting too much information or were receiving disciplinary action for an ill-advised status update. The prevailing thought was, “better safe than sorry.” Basically, we were advised to be very careful when mixing our professional and personal lives in our use of social media.

Such an approach seems to be quite common and is understandable to a certain extent. When dealing with children, it is especially important to be mindful of protecting their well-being in whatever ways you can. There is always the possibility that teachers will say something that is inappropriate or share too much information. But “being safe” shouldn’t mean missing out on a key opportunity to engage the community.

It makes sense to have a policy to discourage individual teachers from posting specifics about their students to their personal profiles. But schools should counterbalance such a policy by setting up a Facebook Page to represent the school. Students, families, and faculty members are going to use Facebook regardless of whether or not schools choose to do so. By setting up a Facebook Page, schools can establish a controlled, professional presence that allows them to capitalize on this social space in many important ways, while still protecting their students. It’s important to note that while a Facebook Page is an excellent opportunity for schools to supplement their web presence, it doesn’t fully replace the benefits of a robust website.

Here are some ways that schools can benefit from establishing an effective Facebook presence.

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A Quick Note on Protecting Students

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As we discuss the potential benefits of using Facebook, it’s important to frame the discussion with a warning about protecting our students. Before launching a Facebook Page, school leaders must ensure they’ve thought through the types of content they’re going to share with the world. Before sharing any information about any student (including pictures, videos, first names, work samples, etc.) school leaders must ensure they’ve obtained consent from the child’s guardian. Additionally, schools should avoid sharing last names of students as this can potentially jeopardize their safety (and in some cases is actually illegal). With a little forethought, Facebook can offer a variety of benefits without risking any safety to students or members of the school community.

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Share School News

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Facebook is an excellent opportunity for a school to connect with families and share information rapidly. If a school is consistent in keeping the information updated and accurate, students and families will likely come to rely on the Facebook Page as a resource to find information about what’s going on at the school. There are many different types of information that a school could choose to share on its Facebook Page.

Share What’s Happening

A Facebook Page is a great place to post noteworthy happenings around the school via a status update that posts on the Page’s wall. This is an easy way to keep families informed as to what’s going on during the school day. Additionally, it only takes moments to do (which in a school is always a good thing). If an event is particularly exciting, take some photos to share. For instance, Citizen Schools shared photos of a recent visit from Arianna Huffington and Tim Armstrong.

Share Upcoming Events

A Facebook Page is an excellent opportunity for a school to post upcoming events using the Facebook Events app. This app not only allows people to RSVP, but also makes it easy for them to share that they’re attending. Utilizing Facebook Events can potentially lead to increased attendance at school functions. A school can also update attendees about any change in plans and send out a reminder as the event approaches.

Make School Announcements

Facebook is a great space for schools to make announcements to parents and students. For instance, if there is an ever-coveted snow day, announce it on the Facebook Page. If a school shares the snow day on its Facebook Page, the news will be sent to the walls of everyone that has Liked the page. Consistency is the key here. If the page is consistently updated with school news, followers will develop an expectation that they can count on the Facebook Page when they want to learn about something concerning the school. I’d also bet that news like a snow day will get plenty of Likes, which will spread the news quickly across the community’s social graph.

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Use Media to Showcase School Culture

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Many schools pride themselves on creating a unique culture that promotes not only academics but also the social development of its students. Facebook provides an opportunity to showcase this unique culture with those who can’t be in the building during the school day.

Share Photos

Photos are an excellent way to showcase school culture. A school may choose to use photos to highlight a variety of aspects of the school, including:

• Students exhibiting values the school encourages
• Celebrations of student work
• Field trips
• Experiential learning activities
• Assemblies or school-wide celebrations
• Recognition of individual students for excellence

Share Videos

Videos can be an incredible way for a school to personalize its online presence and actually demonstrate what it is that makes it special. A school may add videos that showcase a lot of different things, including:

• A variety of learning, including different subjects and age groups
• Assemblies or school-wide events
• Community meetings
• High caliber teaching and student engagement
• Students, teachers, and members of the community discussing what makes the school special
• Share songs, chants, or cheers that are used as a part of school culture or academics
• Sporting events
• Plays, concerts and other performances

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Use as a Recruitment Tool

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Facebook has potential to help a school attract talented teachers and school leaders as well as raise the overall level of awareness surrounding the hard work it’s doing. By using Facebook, a school can add another layer to their recruitment efforts and help attract staff and, if applicable, attract students as well.

Using Facebook to Attract Staff

Facebook is a logical place for schools to focus some of their efforts when recruiting talented teachers and school leaders. For starters, the aforementioned use of media to share details of the school will provide potential staff members a glimpse inside of the school. I know if I was torn between applying to work in two schools, I would likely favor one that was providing me with photos and videos to complement their description of what they’re doing to support students. As long as a school actually has a strong culture and learning community, sharing it effectively can significantly bolster its recruiting efforts.

Additionally, Facebook is a great place for a school to post its job openings. Facebook makes it incredibly easy to share content, which means if I know someone who’s looking for a certain teaching position and come across such a position on a school’s page, I can easily send it his or her way. Current teachers can also share job openings with people in their network that may potentially be interested in applying.

If a school has an online system for accepting job applications, it should include the link on the Facebook Page. If a school doesn’t have such a system in place, it may want to consider using an application that integrates with Facebook. Here’s an example from TEAM Schools, a Network of KIPP Schools, which is using the Job Magic Facebook app to recruit and accept applications.

Using Facebook to Attract Students

For schools that also focus on recruitment of students or enrolling students in a selection lottery, Facebook can be an excellent resource. First of all, a school can share the aspects of the school that make it appealing through photos and videos. But it can also share key information about enrollment, including deadlines, links to an online application, and links to resources that may be useful for a family that is interested in enrolling a student. The fact that information is easily shared via Facebook again bodes well for a school interested in recruiting students.

The Power of Data

Many schools use their strong academic results as a key to their recruiting efforts. Facebook provides a great opportunity for a school to share their aggregated academic data with the world. Not only is it available to those interested in potentially becoming a part of the community, but is also accessible to students and families that are already in the school. These results are easy for students, teachers, and proud family members to Like and share with people in their Facebook network.

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Get Feedback from the Community

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Facebook allows a school to lower the barriers to participation for members of the community. By effectively leveraging Facebook, a school can make it easier for community members to get involved and share their opinions on a variety of fronts. While some schools may fear this increased participation, others will embrace it as it not only increases involvement, but can also lead to a healthy discourse about what’s happening at the school.

Use Facebook Discussions

One opportunity lies in the Discussions tab on the Facebook Page. A school can create a discussion about a specific topic and allow members of the community to share their thoughts within the thread. Admins will be able to moderate the thread and remove any posts that are inappropriate.

Use Polls

Polls provide a chance for a school to solicit feedback directly from its followers. The nice thing about using a poll is that a school can limit the choices available and, with a few simple clicks, blast it out to all of its followers. It’s a great way to quickly collect data that can help inform decision making.

Use Facebook Questions

An alternative to polls, Facebook Questions allow a school to solicit feedback from the community while being a little less restrictive. Questions provides the option for a school to allow users to write in answer choices as well as share the question with others in their network. However, it’s worth noting that Questions opens responses up to friends of friends, which may not necessarily provide the best sample if a school is trying to poll just members of its community. If only sampling those in the school isn’t a priority, Questions could be a good fit. For example, YES Prep Public Schools used Facebook Questions to help determine what mascot they should use for a new school they’re opening in the fall. As of the writing of this article, “Titans” is winning handily.

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A Note on Settings and Privacy

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Once a school has set up a Facebook Page, there are a few settings it may want to consider to ensure it’s easy to monitor. Please note that in order to do any of the following you must first be logged in and designated as an Admin of the Facebook Page.

Posting Ability

It’s a good idea to control the permissions regarding what content users are allowed to upload. To access permissions, do the following:

1. Click “Edit Page” in the upper-right of the Facebook Page
2. Select the “Manage Permissions” tab on the left side of the screen
3. Uncheck “Users can add photos”
4. Uncheck “Users can add videos”
5. Leave “Users can write or post content on the wall” checked
6. Click the blue “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page

It’s a good idea to start off by limiting these permissions. If a school ultimately decides it would like to expand the permissions it offers its followers, it’s easy to do so. It’s better to become more permissive than more restrictive.

Also, it’s worth noting that unlike with personal photos on Facebook, followers won’t be able to tag people in the photos that the school uploads to its Facebook Page. As discussed above in the privacy section, this is a good thing when children are involved for many reasons.

Profanity Blocklist

Facebook allows the Admins of a Page to enable an automatic screener for profanity. To enable this profanity blocklist, do the following:

1. Click “Edit Page” in the upper-right of the Facebook Page
2. Select the “Manage Permissions” tab on the left side of the screen
3. In the dropdown beside “Profanity Blocklist:” select “Strong”
4. Click the blue “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page

If there are specific words that a school would like to prohibit from being used, it can write them in the box beside “Moderation Blocklist” on the same page. If a user tries to use one of these prohibited words, it will automatically be marked as spam and won’t show up on the Facebook page.

Enable Email Notifications

To prevent page Admins from having to constantly be checking the Facebook page, it’s a good idea to enable Email Notifications. To do so, do the following:

1. Click “Edit Page” in the upper right of the Facebook Page
2. Select the “Your Settings” tab on the left side of the screen
3. Check the checkbox beside “Email Notifications”
4. Click the blue “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page

Now, whenever a user posts or comments on the Facebook Page, the Admin will receive an email letting them know that the interaction has occurred.

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Make It Personal

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The key to any school successfully leveraging Facebook is finding what fits the personality of the individual school. The above ideas are merely suggestions as a way to get started. The important thing is that each school makes their Facebook Page an extension of the amazing things they are doing every day in the classroom.

While Facebook is at times a bit daunting, when used effectively it can provide schools with an excellent opportunity to engage the communities they serve and act as a key component in a school’s online presence.

Is there a school in your community using Facebook to its full potential? Do you have any additional tips? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Interested in more Education resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

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Rearing, I’ve heard, is a tough business. This is probably why Google returns more search results for websites on the topic than there are newborn babies in the United States — and why many of those results are online communities of parents that exchange advice and support.

While I’m not a parent myself, I played one on about 20 such communities this week. During my time as an impostor mom, I found some communities that were too focused on marketing a brand to be useful, and others that were functionally more like parenting ghost towns than networks. These six sites, however, impressed me as useful resources and active communities.

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1. Cafemom

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CafeMom is one of the most active online communities for mothers that I’ve seen. When I posted a question (I used the same question on all sites), I received six reasonably helpful responses in the first ten minutes.

The site gets several features right. First, the focus is on conversation, not necessarily just parenting advice. There are forum sections and groups for a number of interests like politics and techie topics in addition to parenting topics. Moms also have an opportunity to write journal entries and blog posts, the most popular of which are highlighted. Other entertainment options on the site like polls, videos, contests, and games make it a destination even when moms don’t have pressing parenting questions.

CafeMom’s creators have also invoked game mechanics. You get points for asking a question (as long as its not anonymous) and answering questions. When people respond to your inquiries, you can award the authors of the best responses more points — which encourages helpful responses. These points increase your “level” on the site and help earn badges.

Another boon is that it’s easy to find and keep up with mothers who have similar interests. You can search for other mothers to introduce yourself to based on your location, interests, children’s ages, or a combination of the three. When you sign up for groups, there’s an option to get an e-mail digest of daily responses.

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2. MothersClick

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Like most social networks that have sprouted in the last five years, MothersClick borrows a few facets from Facebook. Moms can create profiles that include wall posts, friends, private messages, photos and status settings. Groups form around subjects like “moms who rock” and “moms who blog,” and it’s possible to post questions to either your groups or to everybody.

One thing I like is that you can keep track of the conversations that you are involved in and the questions you’ve asked through a simple news feed instead of constantly checking for a response. A search bar at the top of the site is also a great feature that most often gives you the answer to your question before you’ve even asked it.

This isn’t the most active site, however, and the newest posts under some topics are more than a year old. The network does, however, helpfully take the liberty of suggesting other moms with your interests and in your area who you might add as friends.

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3. Mamapedia

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The most unique feature of mamapedia is that it sorts discussion topics based on a timeline of your child’s development. You can see the issues that other parents have already started conversations around based on the common age of your children.

Beyond this, the platform is intuitive and effective. A large search bar lets you forget about navigating and find the information that you need quickly. You can follow questions that you have answered or asked through separate tabs as well as questions asked by moms in your area. Highlighted blog posts are also often specific to your location.

The community is fairly active, and I received five responses to my inquiry in the first ten minutes. The local aspects are also appreciated, opening up the opportunity for more relevant, and possibly even in-person, discussions.

The site supports itself by offering “sweet deals” and “member perks” from your local sponsors. Most of these are relatively appealing, but if you don’t want to look at them they stay tucked in their own tab.

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4. Minti

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Dads, here it is: a social network for patents that doesn’t have “mom” in its title. Minti has a robust arsenal of archived advice written by parents. The site, which is mostly organized in a forum style, has Q&A format sections but also encourages each member to write advice blog posts.

The amount of information on Minti is truly useful and can accessed by search. Interaction, however, seems less of a focus than on some of the other sites. It’s easy to get lost in the forums and recent questions, which, while given their own tabs, aren’t highlighted. Nobody responded to my question until the next day.

Rewards for participating do exist, however. The site has its own virtual currency that can be exchanged for real currency (at a rate of about 500 to 1) that users earn by doing things like writing blog posts and inviting friends.

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5. Momslikeme.com

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Momslikeme.com has built communities around more than 60 locations. When you register, you’re automatically placed in a group with your zip code and directed to your local site. The zip code groups generally don’t have much activity, but it is helpful to have your homepage organized to highlight what other parents in your area are talking about.

Polls feature prominently on the page and often stray away from parenting advice topics. For instance, today’s featured NYC poll is “Should the health care reform bill be repealed?”

As with other sites, you can add friends, send private messages, and join groups. The site’s bread and butter is a coupon section that mostly offers discounts for grocery items.

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6. BabyCenter Community

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The community section of online parenting publication BabyCenter follows a similar format as many others by giving parents an opportunity to add friends, post journal entries, and share photos.

The most active portion of the site is probably its “birth clubs.” You enter the club that matches the month and year of your child’s birth or anticipated birth. Since all the group member’s children are going through the same stages at the same time, it’s easy to find relevant discussions. It’s also easier to build relationships because there’s no need to jump forums or groups as your child ages.

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More Parenting Resources from Mashable:

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- 4 Effective Tools for Monitoring Your Child’s Online Safety
- The Future of Social Media Parenting [COMIC]
- 5 Fun and Safe Social Networks for Children
- HOW TO: Help Your Child Set Up a Blog
- 5 Fun Ways to Help Your Kids Learn Math Online

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, damircudic

More About: Children, Dads, Kids, Moms, parenting, parents, social media, social networking, social networks

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As dumpster diving and extreme anti-consumerism edge their way into the mainstream, more and more renting seems like an easier way to “go green” while cutting costs.

While not everything should be rented, (toothbrushes, underwear, I can go on) most things can be, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that you can borrow just about anything without having to leave your home, or office, or coffee shop – basically anywhere you use your computer. Log on to these sites and let the wonder of temporary ownership begin.

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Books

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People have been renting books since as early as fourth century BCE, but only recently have they been able get their lit fix without logging off the InternetInternet or succumbing to the annoyance of a due date.

There are a number of “Netflix for books” businesses that allow bookworms to read and return books at their own pace. Book Swim prices its plans depending on the number of books taken out at one time (a “devout reader,” with 11 books rented at a time, pays about $60 per month). Books Free, which isn’t actually free, offers similar plans but restricts the type of content you can order based on which plan you sign up for (starting at $10.99 per month for two-at-a-time paperbacks).

Since the average college student spends about $1,100 on textbooks a year, it is not shocking that textbook rentals are becoming an increasingly booming business. Deciding between the myriad of sites that offer the service might come down where you’d rather direct your goodwill. Rent a book from Chegg and they’ll plant a tree; rent a book from Book Renter and they’ll donate a book to a low-income child.

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Movies

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Gone are the days of going all the way to a rental store to rent a DVD, then having to deal with late fees if you kept it for more than a specifically allotted amount of time. Thanks to Netflix, anyone can rent movies by mail with no late fees or due dates. Plans starting at $8.99/month also come with unlimited streaming of tens of thousands of movies and TV shows over the web.

Netflix users can stream movies over their computer or to their televisions via a connected device like the Wii, Xbox, PlayStation, Roku or any number of televisions and BluBlu-ray disc players. Many connected devices can also stream movies from Amazon Video on Demand, which offers 24-hour movie rentals starting at $0.99/per movie.

Another option for streaming video rentals is Apple’s iTunes, which offers thousands of movies and television shows for rent starting at $1.99 ($3.99 for HD). iTunes rentals can be streamed via computer or via the Apple
TV device.

Soon, other media center devices and software like the forthcoming Boxee Box and Google TV should offer additional home streaming media rental options.

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Friends

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Your mother may have told you that money won’t buy you friends, but your mama lied. There actually are firms that provide stand-in relatives, friends, boyfriends, and even groomsmen (complete with cheesy speeches about why you’ll always be “bros”). It may sound like the gimmick in a less than stellar rom-com (ahem The Wedding Date), but it’s a modest yet growing industry in places like Japan. So while renting your buds may be a less-established practice in the United States, there are still plenty of resources for those willing to admit their social circle is lacking and don’t mind shelling out a few bucks for some company (not that kind of company, get your mind out of the gutter.)

The website aptly named Rent A Friend charges a small fee to browse profiles by zip code. Would-be friends list what they’re up for –- which could everything from being your date to prom, to spending a Sunday afternoon taking a hot air balloon ride (weirdly specific, no?). So just who are these people eager to be your pal-for-pay? Profiles include anyone who the site’s “Party! Enjoy Life! Make Friends! Get Paid!” job description appeals to. Contact them to negotiate what your friendship is worth in an hourly rate.

Rent a Local Friend is another friend rental option that is great for those traveling on their own. The site sets up travelers with locals who either join them for a day as guides, or offer a list of insider tips so you can get the most out of the city. It’s a good way to get off the beaten path while traveling and the prices, which vary throughout the 15 available cities, are comparable to professional tours.

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Dresses

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Few women have $3,000 to spend on a dress, so many spend Monday nights coveting the wardrobe on Gossip Girl and wishing they could somehow afford a closet full of designer labels. All that wishing appears to have worked, and thanks to a slew of dress-rental sites, you don’t have choose between paying your Internet bill and investing in a seriously amazing wardrobe.

Typically these sites allow users to rent dresses for the price of about 10 percent their retail value. The dresses are delivered on a scheduled date, worn, and returned with minimal denting to the wearer’s wallet. Some sites, like Rent the Runway, which has a wait-list to become a member, and Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow, only allow members to browse and rent. Other sites, like Girl Meets Dress, allow browsing before membership.

Women’s bodies are unique and it’s frustrating because designer sizing is not. The sites have different strategies for dealing with fit. Rent the Runway allows renters to choose two sizes of the same dress so you can decide what fits best, while Wear Today, Gone Tomorrow has created a standardized sizing chart to guesstimate the right size. Girl Meets Dress actually allows its customers to schedule a date to try-on a dress before the big event. Renters ship the dress back the same day. If it fits, it’s redelivered. If not, more try-on dates are scheduled. Keep in mind, if you are all about saving money while getting the best fit, for all of these sites you can hit up your local Bloomingdales and try on the fashions before you rent.

Every woman knows that a dress alone is not enough. You need the shoes and the bag, and probably some jewelry too. Snag that Channel clutch you really can’t afford but really want from sites like Bag, Borrow, or Steal — which will also loan you designer sunglasses, jewelry and watches, Rent Me A Handbag, which is more than happy to lend out some Prada pumps, or Hand Bag Club, which has a nice selection of arm candy, as well.

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Kid stuff

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The number of children per family in the U.S. is averaging at about two, so it doesn’t make much sense for most people to buy kid things under the premise that they’ll be reused several times by future spawn. Fortunately the birthrate and the number of kid-related rental sites seem to be inversely related.

Cash-strapped parents will appreciate the rental packages at Rent Baby Toys, or Rent That Toy, a site that lets you rent specific toys, like the Kawasaki Ninja Tough Trike at $20 per month. New parents already dealing with maneuvering a stroller, and want to live as light as possible, may enjoy the Traveling Baby Company or Baby’s Away for temporary baby supplies while traveling. More savings and recycling can be had at Wear and Share, to avoid having to buy new baby clothes as fast as your child outgrows them.

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Pets

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Did you have a dog growing up, and miss throwing around a ball with old Fido? Do you live a busy life and don’t know if you can handle the responsibility of a full-time pet? Then maybe Borrow a Pet, is something to try. The organization facilitates pet lending in the name of “reducing the number of abandoned pets.” The idea is that by doing the good deed of putting their pet up for lease, pet owners can give pet seekers a better idea of what they’re getting into before it’s too late. The number of participants is still pretty slim, but the site launched less than a year ago.

Following a similar try-before-you-buy theory, many branches of the Humane Society, such as Marin in California, also have trial adoption programs that allow potential adoptive parents to take pets home for an extended period of time before committing to a full adoption.

On a less altruistic note, a growing number of hotels, including select locations of the Ritz Carlton and Fairmont, rent dogs to guests as walking companions. Or there is always that old cliché of using a dog to pick up that “special” someone. FlexPetz, in New York, L.A. and London provides members with local access to dogs who were rescued or re-homed, but are fully trained.

Members can choose to spend just a few hours or a number of days with each dog. After new members have completed an introduction session with a trainer, they can use the online reservation system to book “doggy time” for fun with their temporary canine pal. The company has plans to expand to San Francisco, D.C., Paris and Boston, if they get the Massachusetts 2008 ban on renting pets overturned.

[What do you think of the concept of renting pets? Good idea or twisted? Sound off in the comments. -- Ed.]

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Everything Else

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Non-virtual rental shops are increasingly accessible on the web. Rentcycle makes it easy to find stores and search their inventory. All the rental shops listed are browsable by location and specialty, but if a rental shop nearby has chosen to sign up for Rentcycle, you’ll also be able to browse their inventory and check availability online.

For items like doughnut fryers, lecterns or Santa hats, there are several sites that allow you to target your neighbors for these less mainstream items.

Zilok lists more than 100,000 searchable items from both rental businesses and individuals. Renters set a price per day, week, or month as well as a deposit amount. Browsers can book items online and contact the owner to set-up an exchange.

Rent Instead and Rentoid are similar concepts with slight variations. Rent Instead offers a shipping option for out-of-area items, and Rentoid avoids bogus items by charging $4.00 per posting.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for — say a competition figure skating dress — Zilok has a function that allows you to send a rental request to registered renters in your area, while Rentoid similarly hosts a “wanted” board for posting requests.

Have you ever rented anything online? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments.

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More Social Media resources from Mashable:

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- Group Buying: Should Small Businesses Jump In?
- 10 Essential Accessories for the Fashionable Geek
- Rentcycle Looks to Put Niche Rental Shops Online

Image courtesy of iStockphotoiStockphoto, mbbirdy

When consumer electronics shopping site Retrevo prepared for Mother’s Day by conducting a survey of parents’ social media practices, it found that nearly half (48%) of parents add their children as friends on Facebook.

Parents admitted that “it can be awkward at times” when they follow their kids’ Facebook updates, but think that it’s probably worth it to keep tabs on them. Of course, savvy teens could easily exclude their parents from seeing potentially incriminating updates using Facebook’s advanced privacy features.

Retrevo also asked parents at what age they believe it’s appropriate for kids to sign up for Facebook or MySpaceMySpace. Twenty-six percent said over 18, 36% said 16-18, 30% said 13-15 and just 8% said under 13.

The study’s scope of interest went beyond social networking, also asking if parents ban texting at the dinner table — 29% of all parents do, but the number is highest (36%) when we’re talking about parents of teenagers. The survey also found that 12% of parents have banned their kids from using social media as punishment.

We know MashableMashable readers are tech savvy and quite a few are parents as well. How do you deal with social media use in the home?

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