Can Snapchat really be used in class? Is Tumblr or Instagram worth considering for class activities? Social media is powerful, relevant, crucial, and yet so overwhelming many in higher education get turned off. Open yourself to the idea and who knows, a lightbulb may just click on!
Social Media is quickly becoming the lifeblood of our world. News, events, thoughts, even research are being shared by millions and millions of people daily. As those who are educating young adults we need to at least be aware of this powerful presence and be open to how we might leverage it in our courses and on our campuses. In marketing we place the advertising where it is most likely to be seen, why not adopt that for our courses. Social Media can be more than just social, it can be educational and we need to be knowledgeable enough to connect the dots for our students.
Objectives:
- Compare & contrast Instagram, Tumblr, SnapChat and other social media platforms.
- Reflect on & describe how they could be used in and out of the classroom.
- Create accounts if desired and connect with other educators.
This topic is not primarily on "blended learning" but those interested in that may be interested to learn multiple ways to engage students outside of class. In that way this is a relevant topic for the blended learning theme.
***Note I am submitting a "Conversations that Work" on this topic as well. For those who are interested in discussing more of the nitty gritty & share how they are effectively using social media or the issues they have had.