Best Practices: Social Media in Education

In today’s culture, it is impossible for teachers to ignore the use of social media in the classroom and in education organizations. Social media and current uses or usage of technology is outlined in the 21^st Century technological competencies needed to enhance student achievement in the State of Alabama’s College & Career-Ready Standards (CCRS).  Social media has the capability to assist low-income children to overcome the digital separation by teaching them how to communicate properly and effectively online (Davis, 2015).

Vicki Davis (2015) discusses twelve best practice approaches for teachers to use in implementing social media in the classroom. The suggestions are:

1. As a class, Tweet or post status updates. Teacher should encourage students propose tidbits of their learning.
2. Write blog posts about what students are learning. The teacher should blog reflections for parents to read each week.
3. Let the students write for the world, not just their local peers. Students are able to write reflections about learning and classroom happenings.
4. Connect to other classrooms through social media. Teachers can use social media to connect his or her classroom through a variety of media.
5.  Use Facebook to get feedback from your students online. Also share classroom discussions, upcoming events, projects, homework, classroom tasks, etc.
6. Use YouTube so students can host a show or podcast.
7. Create Twitter accounts for special interest projects.
8. Ask questions to engage your students in authentic learning.
9. Communicate with other classrooms.
10. Create projects with other teachers.
11. Share your learning with the world. Students can use their creativity to create meaningful projects to share with others.
12.  Further a cause that you care about. 

Social media is the current trend around the world, and everyone is tapping into this style of connecting by-way of technology. Educators should not see social media as a distraction, but a way of building a more efficient approach between the classroom and home relationships. Social media is a tool educators can use to make classrooms and content more engaging, relevant, and culturally diverse.