As a teacher, you know that student engagement is key to success in the classroom. However, it can be difficult to find new and innovative ways to engage your students. It’s no secret that social media has taken the world by storm. Nearly everyone has a social media account, and many people are addicted to checking their feeds regularly. This is especially true for students; they love using social media to communicate with their friends and stay up-to-date on current events.
As teachers, it’s important to utilize this trend, and using social media in education can actually help promote student engagement in the classrooms. Social media can be used to promote student engagement in a variety of ways, from providing a forum for discussion and collaboration to connecting with others in the field.
So, let’s discuss some of the best ways that teachers can use social media in teaching and learning, improve student engagement, and boost teacher-student relationships.
So, first things first – should you really be promoting spending more time scrolling through socials? If you’re a little dubious about encouraging students to spend more of their day on their mobile phones, we get it. But the truth is, when used correctly, social media and technology can be extremely valuable tools for education.
Think about it this way: using social media in education provides a unique opportunity for teachers to connect with their students and build relationships that can improve communication and collaboration. It also speaks to students in their language.
Modern-day millennials don’t tend to do phone calls or emails the way others might – social media is where they hang on and they’re more likely to relate to this type of content. This is especially important for students who may be shy or uncomfortable communicating in person.
There are a number of different social media platforms that can be used to promote student engagement. Whether you’re using an in-person or virtual classroom, some of the most popular and effective platforms include:
Facebook: Facebook is a great platform for teachers to connect with their students and build relationships. You can use Facebook to post announcements, updates, reminders, and more. You can also use Facebook groups to create a safe and supportive space for discussion and collaboration.
Twitter: Twitter is a great platform for sharing resources, articles, news, and more. You can also use Twitter to start or join conversations about education-related topics, and start polls or ask questions about a topic.
Instagram: Instagram is a very visual platform and a great place for sharing photos and videos. This is ideal for students who are more visual learners as you can appeal to them through pictures, videos, and colorful diagrams. You can also use Instagram to promote student work, highlight classroom achievements, and more.
Youtube: Youtube is a great platform for sharing vidStart taking bookings onlineeos. You can use Youtube to create instructional videos, share student work, and even use it to record classes for students to watch back in their spare time.
Building positive relationships with your students is an important part of social media in education. Here are some tips for using social media to build stronger relationships with your students:
Social media is a great tool to help increase student engagement. It can help connect students with their peers and educators, provide a space for collaboration and discussion, and more.
Here are a few ideas of how you can use social media in education to increase student engagement:
A class Facebook group is a great way to connect with your students and build a community-style learning environment. You can use the group to post announcements, updates, reminders, and more. You can also use the group to start or join conversations about education-related topics.
As well as a Facebook group, tutors can also utilize Facebook pages to connect with students. Whilst these are more public than Facebook groups, they are still a great way to communicate with your class and encourage engagement. Plus, if you’re using Facebook pages along with 10to8, you can add a ‘Book Now’ button to your Facebook page and encourage students to book classes via social media.
Encourage your students to share their work with you and with their peers on social media. This will give you a chance to provide feedback and praise in a more informal setting. It will also allow your students to connect with their peers and get feedback from other educators.
There are many social platforms where you and your students can start or join discussions. Twitter is a great platform for sharing resources, articles, news, and more. You can also use Twitter to start or join conversations about education-related topics. Similarly, Facebook groups and communities are also great places to have discussions about education. This is a great way to get your students engaged in discussion and thinking critically about the world around them.
When you post things on social media, using popular hashtags hashtag can allow you to interact with more people. Hashtags are a great way to connect with other educators and find resources on social media. Some popular education-related hashtags include #edchat, #edtech, #teachersofinstagram, and #education.
Instagram stories are a great way to share quick updates and announcements with your students. You can also use them to promote student work, highlight classroom achievements, and more.
Videos are a great way to use social media in education to engage your students and capture their attention. Video content is growing increasingly popular and is definitely better than a chunk of text. You can use videos to introduce new concepts, review for tests, or just for fun. There are tons of education-related channels on YouTube that your students will love.
As well as encouraging students to ask you questions, asking your students questions is a great way to get them engaged in discussion. You can use social media to ask your students questions about the topics you are discussing in class. This is a great way to gauge understanding and get feedback from your students.
Polls are a fun way to engage your students and get them thinking critically. You can use polls to ask your students about their opinions on current events, education-related topics, or anything else you can think of. Plus, you can even use multiple polls and turn them into a quiz. Hosting virtual quizzes or games is a great way to engage your students, get them excited about learning, and revise for tests.
Images and infographics are one of the best ways to use social media in education. You can use them to introduce new concepts, review for tests, or just for fun. The visual element of an infographic will appeal much more to the younger generation than a bunch of text. Plus, they’re just really fun to look at!
Sharing your students’ achievements on social media is a great way to engage them. It will show your students that you are proud of their accomplishments and that you value their work. This is a great way to build relationships with your students, get them excited about learning, and, let’s face it, who doesn’t love seeing their hard work appreciated?
Aside from all the serious reasons to use social media in teaching and learning, it’s also simply a wonderful way to have some fun. Learning shouldn’t be all serious all the time and getting social is one of the top ways to make learning more enjoyable. There are tons of ways to use social media to connect with your students and get them excited about learning. Get creative and have fun with it!
These are just a few ideas of how you can use social media in education. Besides promoting student engagement, following these tips, will help you use social media to build stronger relationships with your students and make learning more enjoyable! Get creative and see what works best for you and your students! And remember to have fun with it!
What other tips do you have? Share them with us in the comments below!