I work as a teacher, a massager and part of the marketing team. Massage is manual work, so there’s no need for digital tools for work itself. We have digital customer/patient management system Tehden and online appointment booking system Avoinna24 where customers/patients can reserve appointment by themselves. That makes us easier to reach and reduces amount of phone appointments which releases time to do other tasks. I use sometimes my personal Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to promote our educations, free massage times etc. I found especially LinkedIn good way to contacting like-minded people and networking with them.

We have Office365-package and we are using its softwares. Most used ones are Word, Outlook, PowerPoint and Teams. Word is for typing written material for students or for all-over use. Outlook is used for basic email corrensponding and as a calendar. Powerpoint is used for showing presentation material for our students. Teams is our learning environment but it is used also as employees information channel. I use Teams as a material storage and as a place where students can return their assignments. I have also chat hour once a week where students ask things. When students studying in pairs or in group I’ll teach them use Padlet which is a good real-time application to share information with other.

In marketing we are using companys Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. We are doing lot of direct marketing and information for our customers and alumni students via TinyLetter mailing program. Largest amout of followers we have in Facebook and Instagram. We use Google Analytics to follow how people will find us and how many will visit our internet site.

Five new Social Media tools

I chose Miro, Open Badges, Jodel, Evernote and Issuu. Good description for social media tool is usability for its purpose and easiness. It depends on which purpose tool is used. I can be used for fun and passing time. On the other hand tool can be used as work-related use when tool has to be solid, reliable and accelerate the work.

Miro is a online-whiteboard developed to educational institution, schools and work groups. It is functional when cooperation is needed. Basic idea is that every participant can add and share different type of information on the board at same time. On the board can be added notes, videos, thoughts, files… etc. and other can comment and edit those in real time. Students can read teachers assigments on the board and return those when done. Miro is free for municipal schools. That’s one reason why Miro would be good for us.

Open Badges are “mini certificates” that are given from something that one has previous knowledge and has shown it online. It can be certain skill, competence, know-how, knowledge… etc. which have been previously acquired. People have nowadays so many skills which aren’t degrees. When that kind of knowledge is know by employer or in hobby it gives huge possibilitis and opportunities. Open Badges are digitalized standard by Mozilla foundation. Companys and educational institutions can offer those “mini certificates” for students, employees and others. Open Badge Passport is where earned badges are collected and that passport can be shared in LinkedIn, X, Facebook or where ever. It’s kind on CV in that point.

Offering Open Badges in our educational institution aren’t maybe that good because we are offering study modules which are entities itself and student get degree from every module.

Jodel is an application whitch allows users to anonymously send messages users nearby. Nearby means local, pretty much 10-20 kilometers range from users location. In Jodel people are asking questions in very vide range. I think Jodel is place where people don’t hesitate to ask difficult or sensitive questions because of the anonymous. Moderators are watching conversations. I think Jodel won’t be a good equipment for school work. Sometimes it’s important to reply if someone needs information. Anonymous can be also negative effect because people can write anything they want without concequenses.

Evernote is a note program which can be used online or offline. It can be used in multiple devices because data is stored to cloud. I’m not very convinced because notes can be stores many other ways as well. Question is: Is this necessary service? If I think our students maybe someone can get help when organizes notes in one place and getting help form Evernotes calendar.

Issuu is a platform where user can convert files to digital publications which can be edited later by user. Every publication gets own link what can shared or embed to some other site. Users different Issuu sites are downloaded on Issuu site where those can be found. There’s multiple amount of different categories what people have published. Some publications are free but some are charged. I found Issuu very interested. I think I’m going to read different things from there for now on. I’m thinking how I could use Issuu in teaching. Maybe students could publish something there. Maybe some anatomical information, muscle chart? Let’s see what I can figure.

Negative issue is that in Issuu can be published anything. Is everything correct and scientifically examinated?

Self reflection and evaluation

First note is that there’s lots of different programs, softwares and applications that can be used in multiple different ways. Purpose defines it. Programs can be planned to do tiny tasks and for every tiny task must have their own program. It goes difficult when employee has various duties in work life. He/she has to learn all those programs, softwares and applications. It takes time and it’s of from the work task itself. What is the best way, know little about everything or focus on just few?

I found those five new Social Media tools very comprehensive to add my job description. Especially Miro is going to be in big use if we are putting that into operation to replace Teams. Evernote and Jodel can’t be used in teaching wisely. I have learned lot from different digital tools.