It doesn't matter your generation or age, as a teacher it is important to stay relevant with your students in order to engage them. The majority of students in North America have a social media account of some sort OR know what Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Snap Chat, etc. are. What better way to engage your students, then by giving them assignments and tasks related to something THEY know how to do and do well (and probably better than us teachers!).
Here are some ideas I have:
1. Create a classroom Twitter account on Instagram page. The problem here is that YOU the teacher have to update these accounts (so you better learn how!). Have you students comment and post on what you post, and that can be parts of their assignment. Could this possibly engage students in discussion that otherwise would not in the classroom? Alternatively, there is an education friendly version of this called Edmodo.
2. When you start a new topic, if you are allowing students to inquire or lead-the-way, you can create a Pinterest board and they can all add different "pins" (ideas) to the board. Pinterest allows many users to upload to one board. This will also aid you as the teacher to see what your students are interested in with regards to the topic. This works great if you are at a IB school for example, as the topics can be broad and allow room for student's to come at the curriculum with their own perspective.
3. When doing book studies or anything that involves getting to know characters, setting, and plot, you can get the students to create a Facebook account for a character and keep it updated with what is going on in the character's life.
Including social media as technology in the classroom also allows really important teachable moments as you can guide youth how to properly interact online. For example, you can discuss cyber bullying, informal/formal language and trolling. When teaching, all types of communication are relevant, therefore online communication is important as well.
Here is a great article about using social media in the classroom.
Here are some ideas I have:
1. Create a classroom Twitter account on Instagram page. The problem here is that YOU the teacher have to update these accounts (so you better learn how!). Have you students comment and post on what you post, and that can be parts of their assignment. Could this possibly engage students in discussion that otherwise would not in the classroom? Alternatively, there is an education friendly version of this called Edmodo.
2. When you start a new topic, if you are allowing students to inquire or lead-the-way, you can create a Pinterest board and they can all add different "pins" (ideas) to the board. Pinterest allows many users to upload to one board. This will also aid you as the teacher to see what your students are interested in with regards to the topic. This works great if you are at a IB school for example, as the topics can be broad and allow room for student's to come at the curriculum with their own perspective.
3. When doing book studies or anything that involves getting to know characters, setting, and plot, you can get the students to create a Facebook account for a character and keep it updated with what is going on in the character's life.
Including social media as technology in the classroom also allows really important teachable moments as you can guide youth how to properly interact online. For example, you can discuss cyber bullying, informal/formal language and trolling. When teaching, all types of communication are relevant, therefore online communication is important as well.
Here is a great article about using social media in the classroom.
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