Social media & education

A sample of social media tools that can enhance engagement and learning

in an education environment.

Background

Journalism tools historically have been based in the areas of: Research Verifying information Finding credible resources/sources Sharing information clearly, concisely

New purpose

Now consider applying the modern forms of these tools to a variety of education settings with the goals of: Increasing student engagement Enhancing students’ skill sets Engaging in critical analysis Exploring media literacy

Blogging

Shaky past (especially for media)Blogger, Tumblr, Wordpress, etc.Benefit: CMS proficientMajority of uses:

Professional platform Personal platform (travel, memoir, etc.)

Twitter

Uses: Conversation Timely news, information (dependent on

cultivation of news feed)

Potential side effect: Students get too personal (a la

Facebook)

Google Hangout

Similar to Skype; available in app form (Google+).

Communicate in multi-user video rooms.

Share your computer screen, or any open window on your computer. Can also share Google Docs, collaborate on meeting notes or draw on a shared whiteboard.

Hangouts On Air broadcasts your hangout.

Storify

Allows user to build a narrative while incorporating info from the Web.

Social media tools such as Storify and ThingLink directly connect to Twitter, Facebook accounts.

ThingLink

Makes images interactive Lets images tell a story by embedding

links to social media, information, videos, music, etc.

Can be shared through FB, Twitter If used in a tweet, way to embed more

information into your Twitter message

Soundcloud

A social sound platform Can use with FB, Twitter, smartphones Easy to access & share with class or

among students themselves Sample exercise: Have students find,

follow and share three audio clips (from three differing viewpoints) about the fiscal cliff.

And others…

Intersect (interactive timeline): Potential uses: D-term, study abroad.

Students use the app as the means of expression.

freeDive: Create searchable databases with

Google Spreadsheets