This document discusses using Pinterest as an educational tool for students. It describes how Pinterest allows users to create boards to organize content by topic. The author proposes creating a student board with four sections: free writes, book reviews, math games, and sneak peeks of upcoming lessons. A response form would require students to engage with and reflect on the content. Potential benefits include introducing students to collaborative sites while meeting learning objectives. Challenges could include monitoring student internet use and keeping students on task.

1. PINTEREST FOR
STUDENTS
Meghan Schooley
EDU614: Integrating Technology in Schools
Final Project, June 13, 2013

2. FOR STUDENTS
• Pinterest allows users to, ‘create and manage virtual image
collections such as events, interests, and hobbies’
• Pinterest has expanded to include 39 different search categories
with popular items such as Education, Food, Do-It-
Yourself, Holidays and Events and Travel
• Pinterest is also considered a social networking site, because it
allows for collaboration and ‘Pinning’ between strangers via the site.

3. FOR EDUCATORS
 Pinterest can be a powerful tool for educators, allowing for the
collaboration of ideas on classroom management, lesson
plans, objectives, and in some cases, student work.
 Registration is free using a valid email address, and teachers can be
on their way to creating ‘Boards’ for their
classroom, students, parents, or other teachers.

4. PROJECT POTENTIAL
 Uses for Pinterest in Education
• Teacher only – can be used
privately for collaboration with
other teachers, you can ‘follow’
pins of educators
• Parent communication –
Pinterest could be used as a
place to post student
work, have parents ‘follow’ the
classroom if they choose
• Student use – Pinterest
board designed for students
to search favorite books and
read reviews, view
activities, search free write
activities

5. CONSIDERATIONS
 Student interactive Pinterest Board titled ‘Fun in 5th Grade!
Student Pinterest Board.’ – In which students have access to grade
appropriate reading materials, ‘Free time free write’ activities, math
games, and ‘sneak peak’ previews of different lessons we will be
doing as a class over the course of the year

6. THE BOARD!

7. FREE TIME FREE WRITE
Area 1 – Students can select
a ‘free time free write’
activity. They click on the
pin, view the description
that I have included
(complete with
Standard), and fill out the
response sheet when
completed.

8. BOOK REVIEWS
Area 2 – Book reviews –
Students can click on a
book title they think looks
interesting. The link takes
them to a site that
includes a short
description, some from
Wikipedia, some from
Borders, etc. Again,
students fill out the
response sheet when
completed.

9. MATH GAMES
Area 3 – Math Games –
Students who are more
interested in math and
science can click on any
of the math pins, which
will lead them to sites
that use the PARCC
standards for practice.
The response sheet asks
for the site address and
area of practice students
worked on.

10. SNEAK PEEKS!
Area 4 – Sneak Peeks! – This
allows students to view some of
the learning objectives and
activities that may be covered
throughout the year, quarter, etc.
The response card asks students to
mention something they are excited
about learning and why. This is also
a great way to assess student
interests and engagement.

11. EXAMPLE
This is an example of what might be
included in a Student Response
sheet, to keep students engaged and
accountable for how they are using
Pinterest. While the site is used
during choice time, if students
choose to use the site, they must be
required to respond so that time and
learning aren’t wasted.
Name: Meghan Schooley
Date: June 13, 2013
Activity Completed: Highlight your selection
Free Write
Math Game
Book Review
SNEAK PEAK Preview
Free Write: Upload a copy of your finished Word document, or comment on whether or not you liked
the writing prompt and say why.
Math Game: Include the name of the Board and site you visited, and give an example of problems you
worked on. (For example, decimal practice, equivalent fractions, multiplication practice)
Book Review: Write the name of the book review you read and whether you would like to read that
book or not. If you have read the book, give a short description of the plot.
I read the book review for ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’ and even though I have already
read that book, I liked it so much that I would love to read it again for free time in class.
SNEAK PEAK preview: Name one or two things you are excited to learn about when we come to that
lesson in class.

12. CONSIDERATIONS
 Students’ access to Pinterest will be limited to choice time or free time as a
reward. The objective is for the teacher to control the content and what’s posted, all
while giving students options and choice in their learning.
 If students choose to use the Pinterest board, student’s must fill out the
Response sheet upon completion.
 There is room for expanding this, however the teacher first needs to establish
guidelines, how to access the ‘pins’, and the response sheet. A project expansion
could include a student-led component for future use.

13.  Students are introduced to
collaborative sites, required to self-
monitor, and are engaged in the
world of digital learning. Students
will learn how to access and
appropriately use technology all
while meeting learning objectives
as set by the Massachusetts DOE
SKILLS AND GLITCHES
 ‘Policing’ – It may be hard to
monitor everything students do
on the web.
 Staying on task
 Parent approval
 Site glitches – links not
working, etc.

14. LINK TO MY BOARD
 http://pinterest.com/megfaith17/fun-in-5th-grade-student-
pinterest-board

15. REFERENCES
 All images: my own Pinterest account
http://pinterest.com/megfaith17/fun-in-5th-grade-student-pinterest-
board
 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
 Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.wikipedia.org/