Social MediaFor You and the Classroom

@LenoraPoulinwww.mrspoulin.wordpress.com

www.poulinseducationmatters.blogspot.com

How did I get here?

• 20 years ago…• changing direction• as I get older• this is not going away – this is not a bandwagon• “what’s basic has changed” – (Kist, 2010)• can’t teach in a socially responsible way if you don’t know what’s going on• social media is a tool

What is Social Media?

image source: http://socialmediamarketingmadeeasy.co.nz/

Why should I be doing this?• I use email – does that count?• you need to go where your students are• social media is part of the “new literacies”• all writing is for publication – we (and our students) need to be prepared• social media is:

• conversation• digital citizenship• Interpersonal and Intrapersonal

(social and reflective)

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/new-teachers-becoming-connected-educators-lisa-dabbs

Where do I begin?

• you are already doing social media activities in your classroom• think/pair/share• snowball activity• peer editing/review• gallery walks• quick writes

• sign up!• Twitter• start a blog• Facebook (?)• Goodreads• use a feed reader – Google• RebelMouse• Pinterest

Blogging with Students

Blog platform options:

• Blogger (Google)• Wordpress• Edublogs• Tumblr• Weebly• Typepad• Blog.com

What I recommend:

FEARS?What are we afraid of when it comes to social media?

• privacy• student safety• too complicated• too much time• is it just another fad?• moving too rapidly• I have nothing to say/add to the information that is already out there• other?...

What now?

Baby steps…

• change doesn’t happen overnight• do one thing, do it well, then add another layer• make it a habit

• www.poulinseducationmatters.blogspot.com• talk to like-minded people – find out who they follow, and what social media engages them• it doesn’t have to be perfect• you are creating a positive digital footprint