Social Medias are mediums that
have caused a lot of controversy over the years in schools. Some teachers are
scared of becoming friends with their students online because they see that as
crossing the line. However, I believe that some Social Medias can be used if
they are given to students with a limited access.
Pinterest,
for example, can be helpful for my students to write picture prompts. Instead
of giving them outdated or boring pictures pulled out of a textbook, I can have
them use Pinterest. However, I will give them boundaries and guidelines that
they must follow. For example, if they have a Pinterest account they can use a picture
that they pinned, but it must be appropriate to a topic and to their academic
work. Then they can write a prompt about that specific picture, but first it
must be approved by me. Giving the students the freedom for using a social
media to find a picture for their prompt, might spark more interest in the
assignment for many students.
Another
way I can use it for picture prompts can be for brainstorming. On my own Pinterest
account I can create a board with preselected images and have my students
select an image from the board. The way I would present them the images would
be in a print screen shot of the board, where they cannot access my account
directly and see personal information. Then I would project this screen shot on
the smart board or print it out for their own use. Then they would select one
of the images and brainstorm about what their prompt may be about. This might
not be the most brilliant idea of using technology in a classroom, but I think
that the students will feel inspired knowing that the pictures I selected were
from a social media that they may even use on their own.
I love the idea of bringing social media into the classroom, because students do not notice that they are learning; students tend to think that their social media websites are discrete from school. I have never thought about using Pinterest for picture prompts; it really does have some great pictures! However, social media can be very dangerous. I understand that you would require your students to run their pictures by you before using them for their assignments, but it is also essential that parents consent to the use of social media websites.
ReplyDeleteLike Michelle, I am an ardent proponent for integrating social media into the classroom. I have little knowledge about what Pininterest, but I have heard about it. There are so many social media websites out there, so it is hard for me to keep track of them all. The main two that I use is Facebook and Reddit. I particularly like your idea about having students find pictures for picture prompt assignments. This site seems great because it causes students to go on the internet to find pictures that are the most meaningful to them. The site also seems to subtly promote visual literacy and digital literacy. Like Michelle said, you need to be aware that social media can be very dangerous. You must be able to model acceptable behaviors because we need to keep our students safe. However, in your blog post, I would have liked to see more of a description about what Pintereset is. I do not know what it is, but you showed me the pedagogical uses of it. I want to know more about what it is, so I can independently think of some ideas. However, this is a good post, and it gives me much to think about in the future.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I hate how there is so much fear coming into the teaching profession and how much it limits creative ways of learning. I think this is why so many students find learning to be boring. As teachers it should be our job to teach them to use things like pinterest properly and show them the positive benefits of how knowledge can enhance their lives.
ReplyDeleteI think bringing Pinterest into an English classroom is a great idea to connect technology with your content area. I remember writing picture prompts in my English class and it was a little boring because the pictures were black and white and a little outdated. By incorporating a social media into the lesson students will be more engaged and actually motivated to compete the task. Social media has become a huge part of our students' lives today and I think bringing it into the classroom as much as possible is a great way to connect the lesson to real life situations.
ReplyDeleteWhen students find their own topic or picture to write about they are automatically more engaged and motivated because it is something of their interest. By incorporating pinterest in an english classroom will allow each and every student to be engaged because they will find their own image to write about. This will also give them the responsibly to search for their own materials teaching them college skills.
ReplyDeleteI don't know much about Pinterest, but after reading your post, it seems a great idea to use in classroom. As if I was a student who struggle in class, especially in English class, I think using Pinterest can help their thoughts organize or brainstorm by looking over whatever pictures or image that they can find. That way, they can be motivated to write something about it. Nice choice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea, but i think it could use some tweaking. While i personally love pinterest, i do believe that students could become lost or distracted in the very large website. I do like your preselected board idea, but i feel the fear of your personal information would be very intimidating and daunting. What you should think about doing is making a pinterest account, and handing out the login and password to all the students and it could be like a classroom pinterest account. That way each student could create a board and you wouldn't have to worry about personal information
ReplyDeleteAna, I don't know anything about Pinterest but it sounds like it could be useful in an English class. Like Amanda, I was kind of wondering whether the website could be distracting to students, and whether it would really be necessary for them to go on such a website to find picture prompts, but Amanda's idea about having a classroom Pinterest account sounds great. Of course, you would have to monitor it closely, but the idea of making a board with pictures that interest the students is a good one. I don't know if I am totally convinced about this website yet, but it sounds like it is worth checking out. I am not a huge fan of picture prompts to begin with, but looking at this website may change my mind.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea. I agree that social medias are often looked down upon. Using pinterest to find photos or ideas for a paper is a fun way to include technology in the classroom. I like Amanda's idea of having a classroom pinterest. That would allow you to control what is appropriate.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that this may engage the students more I worry that it might take them off track. Pinterest had millions of different pictures and I am not sure the teacher would be able to prevent the students for looking at pictures that do not relate to the lesson. I feel as though many students may look at this and feel as though they can be at leisure; That they might wait until the last few minutes of class to find the pictures they really need.
ReplyDelete