“The term social media refers to user-generated content that is shared online through technologies ‘that promote engagement, sharing, and collaboration”
Examples:
- Micro-blogging (Twitter, Maang)
- Social and professional networking sites (Facebook, Edmodo, Pinterest)
- Video and photo sharing websites (Instagram, YouTube, Flickr)
- Weblogs or ‘blogs’ (WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr)
- Wikis (Wikipedia)
- Forums and discussion boards (Google Groups)
Some Social Media Guidelines:
- Always follow relevant departmental and school board policies, including Code of Conduct.
- Be aware of breaching copyright laws when using social media.
- Make sure your personal online activities do not contradict or interfere with your teaching profession.
- Consider what you say and how you say it before you post.
- Use discretion. Some private information should not be shared.
- Be polite and considerate, even in the face of criticism.
- Create specific goals for your use of social media and stick to them.
Social Media Tools in Education
Start a Facebook group. Some questions to consider include:
- Is the parent community active on Facebook?
- What can you do about unauthorized school pages created by members of the community?
- Who will create and maintain the page?
- Should we allow comments?
- What can we do about inappropriate comments?
“Social Media in the classroom: It’s here to stay” – Mimi Lto
Start a Twitter feed:
- Why is it useful? For students, it allows the sharing of information and a discussion on interests. For parents, it allows them to keep updated on school activities. For teachers, it promotes and shares class content and also allows for professional dialogue and information.
- Who manages the account? This can be done with multiple teachers who will monitor and publish on a regular basis. Some technical requirements are useful, but I can help with any questions.
Start a YouTube channel:
- You can post your own videos and even allow student-created videos to be uploaded in one place. Many universities, such as Harvard, Stanford, and Yale have already been uploading much of their course content/lectures on iTunes U.
Learning in Social Media Spaces:
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