Kids love social media. There’s no way around it. So much of their lives are entwined with it. It’s a place to develop their identity as well as a place to find entertainment and socialize with friends digitally. It can be a great distraction, especially if students access it in the classroom. While banning it from the classroom is one way to handle it, why not use it to the teachers’ advantage. If students love social media, it means it keeps them engaged. All it takes is finding creative ways to use it in the classroom to support students’ learning.
TEACH KIDS HOW TO USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO LEARN
One way to introduce social media in the classroom is to teach students how to use social media in productive ways. Show them how to look at hashtags and how to follow conversations on different topics. Show them how to reach out to writers/scientists/creators and ask questions about career advice or what they should focus on studying in school. The key is to show them social media is more than just entertainment, it’s a way to connect and learn from others.
USE A CLASS FACEBOOK/TWITTER FOR ONGOING DISCUSSION
Creating a positive and productive social media experience means using it to add to the learning experience in the classroom. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow for users to comment on posts and create ongoing discussions. This is ideal for teachers who want to keep students thinking and engaged in the topic of the day beyond the classroom. Teachers can post discussion questions and students can answer via social media, thereby continuing the learning beyond the classroom walls.
Teachers can even create a class Facebook group or Twitter handle to post announcements, assignments, or reminders.
CURATE A CLASS INSTAGRAM
Create a class Instagram to share images of work done/themes/subjects that all students can add to. Students can share images, text, or other visuals that relate to what’s being learned in class. Think of it as an idea scrapbook, curated directly on Instagram by the students. Teachers can even encourage them to create relevant hashtags to help promote their work and what they’ve been studying. Students will be engaged as they keep a look out for connections to what they learn in school and what they discover outside of class.
Teachers can help summarize topics and lessons by having students make memes referencing the material they’ve learned. This is great for themes, scientific theories, historical events and even math formulas and equations. Have students find a picture and add the text to create class- approved memes. It’s a fun way for students to engage with the material and create work that is shareable on social media.
How do you handle social media in your classroom?