Using Social Media in the Classroom

In a  recent edition of Professionally Speaking, I read an article about Using Social Media in the Classroom. I agree with OCT registrar Michael Salvatori when he says that social networking sites can be essential instructional tools and that we should be encouraging their use.

Some of the interesting examples sited were;

Using Ning (customized social networking site) so that students could interact and role-play the characters of a Shakespeare play online. The teacher indicated that it was an immersive experience for students which allowed them to grasp the meaning of the play and the characters.

Twiducate (secure social networking site for schools) to facilitate communication between students and teachers and to establish communities of practice.

Using blogs to connect with teams of scientists that are researching the topics students are studying in their classrooms. Students are able to expand the boundaries of their classroom to incorporate a more global perspective because they are exposed to a variety of view points and cultural practices.

French students used Skype to connect with other students in France to talk about activities in their community and classrooms. Students are engaged in authenticate conversations about topics that are relevant to their lives and they improve their aural comprehension skills by listening to other people speaking French.

Sometimes there is reluctance to adopt these kinds of instructional tools for fears of encountering improper online conduct or protecting student privacy. However, as the article points out , "there is no safer place than school itself to discuss the proper use of tools like social media, privacy, digital identity and respectful language."