More and more teachers are implementing social media like blogs, Twitter, and Edmodo in the classroom to engage students familiar with social networking. When used for academic purposes, social media allows for collaboration between teachers and students, facilitating discussion and feedback. Incorporating emerging technologies and social media breaks from traditional teaching and learning, engaging students through alternative forms of expression. The document provides examples of assignment ideas and ways teachers have used social media platforms like Instagram and Edmodo in their classes.

1. THE SOCIAL WEB
Suzanne Cruz, Katherine Goedderz, Holly King, and
Karen Porter

2. BENEFITS OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE
CLASSROOM
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More and more teachers are now implementing social
media in the classroom with much success.
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Teachers have been using
blogs, wikis, Twitter, Edmodo, Facebook, Vine, Ning, Pinterest
, and even Skype in their classrooms in order to engage their
students.
Social networking is something that most students are
familiar with. Yet, they often lack the skills to transfer
social networking into academic settings.
Digital natives want to learn this way! Here is a YouTube
video about the 21st Century Learning
Environments, and the importance of incorporating
technology in our classrooms.
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The video also includes drawings from students‟ “ideal
classrooms.”

3. COLLABORATION BETWEEN TEACHER &
STUDENTS
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Connection in the classroom is so important for teachers and
students, and social networks such as, Twitter, can provide an
immediate response from peers and teachers.
“Contact between students and faculty in and outside of class is
critical for student engagement because it influences student
motivation and involvement” (Dunlap &Lowenthal, p. 2).
Distance education online social networking tools are equally as
important. Brady, Holcomb & Smith stated that “Fostering a
sense of community is critically important, especially in an online
environment where students often do not get the opportunity to
meet face-to-face with other students or the instructor in the
course” (p. 152).
Teachers may use Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and even
Edmodo in order to create a hash tag for their classes. Students
may use these sites to search for the hash tag and engage in
relevant discussion from home, or wherever they may be while
connected to the virtual world (Kist, 2013, p. 11).

4. IMPORTANCE OF INCORPORATING
TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
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Kist (2013) advises us that the use of emerging
technologies and innovative methods should begin early
with teacher preparation programs.
“New technologies with social media as a vital and integral
component are breaking our education system out of a very
old paradigm of teaching and learning and engaging
students, educators, and parents to embrace the fact that
most human endeavors will be shaped by technology”
(Kist, 2013, p. 11).
“Social Networking Sites „afford students unprecedented
opportunities to share their ideas, celebrate their creativity and
receive immediate feedback from fellow‟ students”
(Brady, Holcomb & Smith, p. 154).
In the article, “Tweeting the Night Away,” a professor chose to
use Twitter with her online classes to connect students with their
peers and teachers. Some students may be introverted, and do
not like to talk in class. Social media and technology allow
students to express themselves in an alternative way.
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5. USING EDMODO IN THE CLASSROOM
According to Wikipedia, "Edmodo is a social
learning platform for teachers, students, and
parents. It is commonly thought of as the Facebook
of schools, as called by pupils and teachers alike"
(2013, para.1).
 A page was created for two different courses, and
discussion questions, assignments, and
announcements were listed. Students have already
been actively participating! Please visit:
 Edmodo with Class One
 Edmodo with Class Two
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6. #INSTAGRAM
Instagram is an application on a SmartPhone that
allows users to upload, edit, and choose filters for
pictures. When uploading the picture, users also
create a comment to accompany the picture, and
can include hashtags (#).
 A hashtag is a way for users to connect with others
who use similar terms.
 Suzanne went ahead and also introduced
Instagram to her class. She wanted the class to
upload pictures related to the class, or what they
were learning by inserting #professorcruz in the
comment box when uploading the picture.
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7. ASSIGNMENT IDEAS
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There were a few ideas taken from the article, “Class, Get
Ready to Tweet: Social Media in the Classroom,” where the
teacher uses social media in different lessons.
He uses a wiki to have students create their own textbook.
 The teacher also has the students interview community members
via Skype.
 Lastly, they research various locations using Google Earth.
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Here is a YouTube video about the 21st Century Learning
Environments, and the importance of incorporating
technology in our classrooms.

The video also includes drawings from students‟ “ideal
classroom.”

8. RESOURCES
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https://www.edmodo.com/home#/group?id=6659946 and
https://www.edmodo.com/home#/group?id=6668208.
https://www.edmodo.com/home#/group?id=6659946
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/social-bookmarking
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/twitter
http://www.commoncraft.com/video/social-networking
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIKly3WnFzE&feature=youtu.be
Brady, K., Holcomb, L. & Smith, B. (2010). The Use of Alternative Social
Networking Sites in Higher Educational Settings: A Case Study of the E-Learning
Benefits of Ning in Education. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 9(2).
Retrieved November 5, 2013 from http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/pdf/9.2.4.pdf
Dunlap, J. C. &Lowenthal, P. R. (2009). Tweeting the night away: Using Twitter to
enhance social presence. Journal of Information Systems Education,20(2).
Retrieved from
http://patricklowenthal.com/publications/Using_Twitter_to_Enhance_Social_Presen
ce.pdf
Kist, W. (2013). Class, Get Ready to Tweet: Social Media in the Classroom. Our
Children: The National PTA Magazine, 38(3), 10-11. Retrieved from
http://eric.ed.gov/?q=social+networking&ff1=dtySince_2009&ff2=subComputer +U
ses+in+Education&ff3=audTeachers&id=EJ991339