This document summarizes a project using new technologies and social networks to motivate students in a secondary education theatre program. The project involved 27 students creating and distributing theatre content like images, video and text through social networks like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Surveys found social networks and creating/sharing content were strong motivators for the typically unmotivated students. Analytics showed growing interest in their YouTube content after performances. The project concluded that motivation is key for these students and using familiar technologies and social networks can help engage them unlike traditional static education methods.

1. Impact of new technologies and
social networks on a secondary
education theatre project
J. Pedro López, Pablo Ballesteros, David Jiménez, José M. Menéndez
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, I.E.S. Al-Satt
Nantes, 30th October 2013

2. Index
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Introduction
Environment
Objectives
Content creation and distribution
Social Networks
Conclusions
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3. Introduction
• Collaboration between: University
(UPM) and Secondary Education HighSchool (Al-Satt)
• Introduction of internet tools (social
networks) in Secondary Education.
• Searching for the students’ motivation.
• Analysis of results (survey / analytics)
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4. Environment
• 27 Students: 3rd E.S.O. (14-18 y.o.)
• Selective subject theater: Sept 2012June 2013.
• Low academic level (80% repeating a
year) and from “diversification” programs
• Complicated disciplanary expedient
• At risk of social exclusion
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5. Objectives
• Finding motivation in theater.
• Using techniques of avant-gard and
contemporary theater.
• Creating a corporative image.
• Make them feel important.
• Using technology to improve results.
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6. Motivational factors (I)
• Teacher
• Performances
• Social Networks (Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, Blog)
• Content creation: text, images, video
• Distribution through channels: press, posters,
DVD, social networks, recording
visualization.
• Family and schoolmates less important
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7. Motivational factors (II)
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8. Performances
• 20th December: first presentation
• 3th March: Caixa Escena Encounters
(project selected for theater contest)
• Gala Benéfica (final performance)
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9. Content Distribution
Materials &
Contents
Teacher
Images
Video
Text
Supervision
Distribution
Channels
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Posters
Blog & Social
Networks
DVD
Recording
Visualization
Press

10. Social Networks
• Students normally access to Facebook,
Twitter or YouTube.
• Not creating new platforms (Moodle),
using the existent ones.
• Introduce theater subject in their normal
life as a motivational tool.
• Corporative image creation:
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11. Promotional posters
Promoting Social Networks
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12. Social Network Consumption
• From results from a survey to students:
– Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have
better reception.
– Access through
smartphones or PC’s
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13. Results
• Survey for the students, developed in
final class:
– Motivational factors
– Perception of quality
– Interest and theater and the subject
• Analytics from social networks and
internet consumption.
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14. Perception of quality (I)
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15. Perception of quality (II)
• Appreciation of teacher’s work
• Good reception to material and contents
and distribution (social networks).
• Positive interest in audiovisual contents
created.
• A perception of own improvement in
performances.
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16. Analytics from YouTube
• Analytics reveal interest in contents
from students and their schoolmates
• After last performance (may 2013) the
views in YouTube raised.
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17. Conclusions (I)
• Motivation is a key factor in students’
education (especially in artistic subjects)
• Youth are subject to continuous and
multiple stimuli, and traditional education
system is too static
• Technology surrounds them and their
usage is an advantage for the teacher,
not an impediment.
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18. Conclusions (II)
• Social networks are an important
motivational factor.
• Common S.N. obtained better reception
than specifically created ones, such as a
blog or a moodle.
• Audiovisual and graphical content are
profitable in the learning process:
– Motivation factor
– To see their errors
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19. Trailer: Child Soldier
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20. Thanks for your attention
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