Today’s students have a seemingly unbeatable addiction to their phones and other online devices. While we’ve been fighting it for years, and gaining little to no ground, perhaps it’s time to say, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” After all, students can learn just as easily from a computer screen as a text book – and leverage bonus features like video and search capabilities. Clearly, the online social phenomenon is definitely here to stay. With that in mind, we’ve put together a few resources that will help you leverage your students’ love of social media to your advantage!
Educational Advantages to Social Technology
With the demand for tech-savvy job candidates on the rise, computer and connectivity expertise are important additions to a student’s resume, along with Engineering and Math. By bringing online technology into our classrooms, we help our students master important 21st century skills like data mining and responsible digital citizenship. Even a passion for Facebook and Twitter can now be channeled into a real-world career, such as Social Media Director.
As our students get tech-smart, there’s no reason for us to fall behind! A survey by eSchool News showed that while teachers are using social media in their personal lives, few are leveraging it in the classroom. As we strive to improve our level of student engagement, why ignore the apps that students already use and adore?
Social media can be used for collaboration, as students and teachers explore new technologies together. It can also help educators stay in contact with both students and parents.
Case Study: Snapchat in Journalism Class
High schools in Kansas are using social media, specifically Snapchat, as a Journalism tool. The students use “snaps” – pictures or 10-second videos taken with their smartphones – to cover local events and create a digital narrative. The students become social media editors, leveraging online assets for stories in their school newspaper.
The teachers in this program found that technology helped them connect with and motivate students, while imparting real-world skills. “We’re teaching new forms of storytelling that real journalists in the field are embracing, and it’s a new way to create content,” explained one teacher.
Hot Tech for Educators
Along with familiar apps like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube, we now have online tools designed specifically for the world of education:
- Edmodo – like Facebook for teachers, with more than 20 million users around the world
- EDU 2.0 – an online library where teachers can share lesson plans, quizzes, videos, experiments and other resources; currently hosting more than 15,000 pieces of content
- EducatorPLN and EdWeb.net – networking sites for educators, with educational videos and webinars
- Teacher-driven communities such as Classroom 2.0, Discovery Educator Network, TeacherSquare and Tioki
- EduBlog and KidBlog – blogging platforms for teachers and students
Social Media Guides and Resources for Teachers
Ready to utilize these tools? Here are some great tips and resources:
From We Are Teachers: A Guide to Social Media for Educators
Do you Tweet? This article calls Twitter “a must for educators,” and will help you get started, with a list of important educators to follow. You’ll also find how-to’s for using EducatorPLN, Classroom 2.0, EdWeb.net, Edmodo and several other connective tools.
We especially love the “Best For” section of this article, which directs you to the best tools for accomplishing specific goals. For example, it recommends Facebook as the best for fundraising, as well as for connecting with parents. Tumblr is best for finding new teachers, and Edmodo is best for flipping your classroom.
From Mashable: 7 Fantastic Free Social Media Tools for Teachers
This article tells you how to incorporate social media into your lesson plans, using:
From Edutopia: Social Media for Teachers: Guides, Resources, and Ideas
This article brings you multiple resources for leveraging the 4 social media heavy-hitters:
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Instagram
Are you integrating social media into your classroom? Tell us how, and share your favorite success stories!
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