Social media applications can be a valuable resource to students. From real-time research to creating presentations to share with the world, social media offers a way of using technology in the classroom to meet learning objectives. While today’s generation of students may consist of digital natives, learning to use digital tools responsibly is still vital to their success. Some social media tools are subject-specific, but others are beneficial in any classroom.
Edmodo
Edmodo is an alternative social media application that operates similarly to larger sites like Facebook. It includes assignment, quiz, and polling features. According to Emma Chadband in “Social Media Made Simple,” Edmodo makes grading easier, and more importantly, it makes it easier for students to share work outside of the classroom.
This application gets a lot of attention, and it often comes first to mind when people consider using technology in the classroom, but it may have wider applications than teachers realize. Twitter enables students to publish information as a class or as individuals, and because of its linked hashtag feature and its live trending stream, students can track trends in real time and analyze them for projects.
Prezi
Students have been using PowerPoint for quite some time, but Prezi makes presentations social. It allows for expanded organization and simple linking between multiple outside sources (such as video). Most importantly, students can share any presentation with anyone around the world.
Social media is an aspect of modern life that many people enjoy. By harnessing that interest and bringing it into the classroom environment, you can better engage your students and find creative ways of using technology in the classroom. Those looking to learn more about social media and technology use might consider professional development courses or an online master’s degree in education.
Learn more about the Lamar University online M.Ed. in Educational Technology Leadership program.
Sources:
National Education Association: Social Media Made Simple
Edutopia: A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom
