This document discusses the benefits of using social media in education. It provides examples of how tools like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Skype can be used to engage students, facilitate collaboration, and provide access to global perspectives. While some educators fear social media or see barriers to its use, the document argues it can support 21st century skills and help students connect with others around the world. Quotes from educators emphasize how social media brings current information into the classroom and allows students' voices to be heard globally.

1. Social MediaA 21st Century Tool for Global ConnectionsJoquetta Johnson, Library Media SpecialistMilford Mill Academy Baltimore County Public SchoolsMSEA ConferenceSaturday, October 16, 2010

2. Kaplan University Commercial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e50YBu14j3U

3. http://tiny.cc/1aih4

4. http://tiny.cc/c09ff

8. Any website or web service that utilizes a 'social' or 'Web 2.0' philosophy. This includes blogs, social networks, social news, wikis, etc.webtrends.about.com/od/web20/a/web20-glossary_2.htm

10. http://web2survivalguide.wordpress.com/what-is-web2/

11. Social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube bring additional voices and views into the classroom and help stimulate both engagement and understanding. “Now, when you have something like the Haitian earthquake happen, kids are accessing the most current and powerful information right along with the rest of the world…They’re analyzing that and they’re making sense of the world. And they’re doing that with a teacher who cares about them.”Chris Lehmann, principal of the Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in Philadelphiahttp://www.technewsdaily.com/teachers-embracing-social-media-in-the-classroom-0509/

12. A real-world perspective"One of the things we try to do is not just look at the idea of social networking, but also look at the notion of academic networking…We want kids to understand that the digital footprint they leave matters. We try to teach kids that they can be a force in the world...Their voice can matter."http://www.technewsdaily.com/teachers-embracing-social-media-in-the-classroom-0509/

13. BENEFITSCreativityAuthentic LearningCollaboration24/7 AccessGlobal AudienceInnovationCritical ThinkingSupports 21st Century SkillsGlobal AwarenessCommunicationWhen Kids Are Engaged…They Learn Better

14. BarriersBad pressBlocked in most school districtsNot in the curriculumMost educators don’t use themConcerns about privacy & behaviorMost educators don’t see the educational valueFear

15. "Schools need to think how powerful it could be as a learning tool [social media] to bring that engagement outside the classroom into the classroom…you insert a simple tool that allows students to connect with each other or their peers in other schools and countries whenever they want, you just see kids' faces light up. That's what we saw in a class where our kids were talking to students in Iowa."Chris Lehmann, principal of the Science Leadership Academy (SLA) in Philadelphiahttp://www.technewsdaily.com/teachers-embracing-social-media-in-the-classroom-0509/

16. If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail. Abraham Maslow

17. We must educate the students we have, not the student we used to have, nor the student we wished we had. We must adapt to today's student, not them adapting to us. We must adapt to their world of today's 21st century technology. We cannot teach like we've taught forever anymore. We must change ourselves to adapt to their world.They are hyper-communicators and must "power down" just to go to school.http://teacherlingo.com/blogs/sharingtechnology/archive/2008/02/23/using-youtube-in-the-classroom.aspx

18. Global Connections

19. “I only started to appreciate the personal and professional advantages and benefits of social networks once I'd become more inclusive and widened my network to include people from all over the world and who I hardly know (or don't know). It's led to so many benefits: to me finding out about things I'd otherwise never have heard about, establishing friendships and reinforcing professional contacts, being invited to speak at conferences and take part in projects, etc …”http://blog-efl.blogspot.com/2010/01/2010-year-of-personal-learning-network.html

20. http://globaleducation.ning.com/

21. http://www.classroom20.com/events/2010-global-education

22. “Nobody would dispute that the risks of children using social media are real and not to be taken lightly. But there are also dangers offline. The teachers and parents who embrace social media say the best way to keep kids safe, online or offline, is to teach them.” http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school/

23. “Social networking is allowing teachers, who often feel isolated in their classrooms, to revolutionize the way they connect with others…”Tom Whitby, adjunct professor of education for secondary English at St. Joseph’s College in New York City.http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/06/16/03networking.h03.html

24. Teachers are “finding out about a whole wide range of options beyond what is done in their own building,” he says. “People are trying more things based on recommendations from teachers around the world.”Tom Whitby, adjunct professor of education for secondary English at St. Joseph’s College in New York Cityhttp://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/06/16/03networking.h03.html

25. “I’m constantly amazed at how many people feel the need to criticize Twitter - it’s superficial, it’s useless, it’s boring, you can’t say anything useful in 140 characters, and so on… Never one to be influenced by the crowd, I signed up.”http://whatsnewintheworld.net/2010/01/twitter-as-a-pln/

26. "I have found more resources and got more useful advice for professional development in 3 months on Twitter than in the previous 5 years without it."@accordin2jo

27. http://edchat.pbworks.com/

28. http://www.globalpovertyproject.com/

31. www.zamzar.com

32. “Mary chooses pedagogically relevant technologies to engage her students, the range of activities spans the incorporation of Web 2.0 applications to the creation of a Facebook page for class.”http://clc.yale.edu/2009/02/18/videoconferencing-in-the-classroom-with-skype/

33. Select and use one social media tool featured in the following four slides

34. NoviceView the video: “Response to the Principal Who Bans Social Media”on YouTube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtGY-SVZRRY

35. IntermediateFollow educators in Twitterwww.twitter.com

36. AdvanceJoin a Facebook group that has a global connectionwww.facebook.com

37. Attend an educational conference in Second LifeOver Achieverwww.secondlife.com

38. We shouldn't expect "out of the box" thinking when we only employ "in the box" teaching.Tom Whitby

39. Get On It!

40. Additional Resources100 Ways You Should Be Using Facebook in Your Classroomhttp://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/Educators Using Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7036945291Second Life in Educationhttp://education.secondlife.com/whysl/advantages/Using Skype in the Classroomhttp://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/10/using-skype-in-classroom-or-just.htmlSkype in the Classroomhttp://wikiskype.pbworks.com/Skype-in-the-ClassroomTwitter for Teachershttp://twitterforteachers.wetpaint.com/page/Twitter+in+the+ClassroomTwitter 4Teachershttp://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/Using YouTube in the Classroomhttp://teacherlingo.com/blogs/sharingtechnology/archive/2008/02/23/using-youtube-in-the-classroom.aspx

41. Image AttributionsGlobe with Mice http://tiny.cc/3ha7cSocial Media Classroom http://tiny.cc/v2ol4Bored Students http://tiny.cc/lla7uClassroom http://tiny.cc/0xjiry29z4Texting http://tiny.cc/5cy4vDigital Footprint http://tiny.cc/grhq5Naysayer http://tiny.cc/b2hu4Globe http://tiny.cc/5z1s6Twitter http://tiny.cc/veeo8Hand http://tiny.cc/hk59tvp9v5Kids with Handheld Devices http://tiny.cc/i2hb9Kids at Computer http://tiny.cc/7lygyTeens with Cell Phones http://tiny.cc/9145t36mm4Social Media Logos http://bit.ly/aKgE4OHand Holding Globe http://bit.ly/cLCyZTYouTube Blocked Logo http://bit.ly/af0SZaHomeworkhttp://tinyurl.com/29yod7pSecond Life http://tinyurl.com/24nvmvwGlobe in Hands http://tiny.cc/p0xonGirls with Computers http://tiny.cc/de6d0Kids with iPods http://tiny.cc/vvyb3Boys with iPads http://tiny.cc/g1q7kNIE Logo http://tiny.cc/n4rntHammer & Nail: http://tiny.cc/twuwiThinking Outside of the Box: http://tiny.cc/277v3Locked Door http://tiny.cc/aypxcm08le

42. Joquetta Johnson, Library Media SpecialistMilford Mill AcademyBaltimore County Public Schools410-887-0665jjohnson@bcps.orgwww.joquettajohnson.comwww.milfordmillacademylibrary.pbworks.comwww.twitter.com/accordin2joSkype: accordin2jo