Mobile Learning, Connected Learning and Social Media in Education

    The benefits of using social media in the classroom are instant feedback and improved connectivity between students and teachers.  When social media sites like Twitter are used, a quick poll given as an exit ticket for example, gives teachers and students instant feedback on how they are doing.  Students can quickly and easily summarize their learning and a class hashtag will allow absent students to still feel included in class activities.  If you create a class Facebook page, students can communicate with each other to discuss what is happening in class.  The teacher is able to monitor the discussions and clarify if there are questions outside of the classroom.

   Teachers will ensure a positive, equitable, accepting and safe learning environment through direct teaching of the pros and cons of social media.  Better yet, have students co-construct acceptable use of social media sites both in and out of the classroom.  When the students are involved in setting criteria, I believe they are more likely to use the criteria and even “police” each other if the criteria is not being followed by other students.  In high schools, many students will have their own phone to access the internet and sites or apps that teacher would ask their students to use, but it is important to have some extra devices in the room for students that do not have a phone.  Another option is to have students work in pairs or groups, you do not need a 1:1 ratio to use social media effectively in the classroom.  Younger students could be given their own Symbaloo Board for example to ensure that the websites they are using are safe and suitable for educational use by younger students.

   When planning for instruction that integrates social media, teachers must consider student experience with the site or app.  Most sites are intuitive and students will be able to use them without direct instruction, however many students are what has been referred to as “surface surfers” and will not necessarily go in depth to meet all the requirements.  A quick tutorial or instructional video could go a long way to ensure that students are using the social media the way the teacher expects them to.  Often just letting the students go will produce ideas and products that the teacher would have never imagined or expected and the learning will become even greater for everyone.