11 Ways to Use Social Media

in the Classroom
A Crowdsourced Anthology of Strategies from Real Education Professionals
A Word From the Editors

Social media is no longer the communication

method of the future. We’re already here. In fact,
nearly 50 percent of teenagers admit to being online
on a near-constant basis and 40% of schools allow
social media in the classroom for instructional
purposes. From Snapchat and Instagram to Youtube
and Twitter, our students know where to go for
information, entertainment, and networking.

This eBook was created to provide various ideas for

educators and administrators to incorporate social
media in the classroom. It’s a compilation of responses from the Schoology community—diverse
education professionals from around the country—sharing their real-life experiences that can inspire
a new approach to social media and digital learning.

Let’s meet our students where they are.

Simulating Life through Simulated Life
School Social Media Policy

Social Media use is limited to accounts created within the domains of

school-owned and monitored applications and platforms. Sean Coffron
Instructional Technology
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom Training Specialist
Manassas City Public
I used a social media platform to facilitate discussions and ongoing Schools, VA

reflections when conducting a simulation exercise every time we

completed a chapter of Animal Farm.

The Impact on Students

This provided a unique dynamic with the students and provided a more
comprehensive opportunity to share information and gather collaborative
understandings about the literary terms in the context of the novel.
Test Questions on Twitter
School Social Media Policy
We are to try to limit social media interactions outside of Schoology.

Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom

Dan Figueroa
Teacher
My favorite memory of my usage of social media in the classroom is from
Lebanon High School, PA
a time when I posted a few test questions on Twitter the day before a test.
I had informed my students that following me on Twitter could help their
grades, and in previous instances I had posted news that related to class
discussions. Never before, however, had I actually posted test questions. I
became rather happy with the results as the students who had decided to
put more into the class received the extra benefit, and then they began to share about how much they are using
Twitter to learn outside of class (Not just get test questions).

The Impact on Students

Sure, students got a little bump for their studying, but they were also able to share the educational benefits of social
media. Too often we are so quick to dismiss social media as negative, but when used in this sense, our students can
use it to really learn not just from us, but from each other. On the whole, this led to a higher engagement from my
students with my account, not just looking for class hints, but with articles, posts, and ideas that relate to that which
we had been learning about all year.
Keeping Up with Industry Using Twitter
School Social Media Policy
My district is currently formulating our social media policy.

Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom

Robert Bourgeois
CTE Teacher: Digital Arts
I use social media in my classroom on a regular basis to promote what
- Game Design
my students are doing as well as keep them informed about trends in the Durham School of the
game industry. However, I have also used it in my instruction with students Arts, NC

about how to keep abreast of the latest trends and industry standards as
well as tools and techniques used by digital artists and game developers.
Our main social media platform in my room is Twitter.

The Impact on Students

My students were very hesitant at first. They prefer to use things like
Snapchat or other forms of social media than Twitter. At first, they did not
see the use in it because of the short limitations on what you can post.
But, once they started to see how people in the game industry use it, many
of them changed their minds about Twitter. It suddenly became more than
just a way to share what they had for lunch.
Sharing Successes on Social Media
School Social Media Policy
Our students are required to complete a media opt out form if their
guardian does not want them photographed etc. Otherwise it is fair game
Anne Bianchi
to post and share with respect to first names only and not sharing private
Instructional Technology
information. Specialist
Seatack Elementary
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom School An Achievable
Dream Academy, VA
I used Twitter and a class Instagram to share student work. I often had
military families and they were very grateful to be able to stay up to date
with their child and to see the great things happening in the classroom.
My students also shared their work using Edmodo to post and publish
creative writing.

The Impact on Students

Students enjoyed the ability to receive feedback especially from their
parents and peers. If I posted a picture or shared something amazing a
student was doing the first question they would ask was, “can you send
that to my mom?”
Facebook: Our Classroom Central Hub
School Social Media Policy
We are allowed to run a classroom “update” page (such as a classroom
Facebook page) to provide information to new and current students.
Must have prior authorization from administration before starting any Dan Talvi
school-related online web pages or accounts (including classroom social
Teaching Assistant
media). Upon approval, must provide administration and district media
Greater Southern Tier
coordinator administrative access to page(s) and post a legal disclaimer in
BOCES - Bush Campus, NY
the “About” section. Any media-based posts (including images and video)
must have approval before posting. Unfortunately, due to the increasing
concerns of student privacy, our district policies that have been adapted
for classroom social media use have become extremely restrictive, making
utilization of social media in the classroom near impossible.

Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom

We have attempted to utilize social media in the classroom to provide prospective and current students more
information about our course in an easily accessible way. By using a popular platform, such as Facebook, this allows
us to push reminders to current students in a way that they’ll actually receive the information, showcase past student
work that gives parents and prospective students an idea of what to expect in the course, as well as an easy way to
reach out and communicate with instructors.

The Impact on Students

In the short time we utilized our social media page for our course, students appeared to be engaged— frequently
liking and replying to posts made about the course. As a digital media course (focusing on graphic design and video
production), we were able to utilize Facebook’s photo albums and video services to showcase our past student work,
which seemed to spark new ideas in current students to expand upon past students work.
#SquadGoals - Your PLN’s Got Your Back
School Social Media Policy

Social media such as blogs, Facebook, and Twitter are used by individuals
and organizations for communication, collaboration, and connections Kristen Barnello
to their constituents. Since such communication may encompass both Supervisor of Fine Arts &
Social Studies
private and public, personal and professional voice, the district has
West Chester Area SD, PA
developed guidelines to clarify how best to protect and enhance employee
professional and district reputations.

Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom

I use Twitter all the time to communicate with our families the great things
happening in our classroom and as a way to connect with other educators.
I also used some “mock” SM lessons, such as Fakebook, Paper Tweets, Text
exchanges between historical figures.

The Impact on Students

Whenever you incorporate tasks that are of interest, Social Media or not,
the students are more engaged than traditional tasks.
Resources on Pinterest
School Social Media Policy
We have to be careful about FERPA.

Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom

Diane Lytle
Online Adjunct,
I use Pinterest as a way for my adult online students to post resources. I
Schoology Coach
set up a Pinterest account for our course with me as the administrator and Clarks Summit University,
with Boards that are appropriate for our course topics. Everyone who does PA
not have an account signs up for one, they add the same boards to their
own accounts, and they share their Pinterest names in a Discussion. I add
each of them as collaborators on the account and ask them to follow each
other too.

The Impact on Students

My students not only pin their resources to the site, but they include an
approximately 50-word description of what they found and why they
thought it would be useful in their lives or careers. The advantage of using
Pinterest rather than just posting the resources in the course is that they
will be available long after the course is finished, and the students can
continue to interact with each other on these topics. That’s the whole idea
behind social media!
Using YouTube as Exemplars
School Social Media Policy
Teachers have access to their accounts at the middle school. Students do
not have access to social media through the schools internet. Additionally,
the students are not allowed to carry their personal devices on them Brian Bruggeman
during the day. However, this is hard to police and students have posted to
Band Instructor
their social media sites during the school day.
Monroe Middle School
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom
I use YouTube in my classroom to help students hear examples of the
music they are performing. With perseverance, I am able to provide
students with performances we can use to improve our own performance.
These performances provide the students with opportunities to learn from
other musicians. They hear examples of intonation, blend, and balance. We
are also able to communicate about the student’s thoughts about the performance.

The Impact on Students

The impact this practice has had on my students has created an environment where students are becoming more
musically literate. First, students are able to hear other musicians perform the music that they are performing.
This allows them to understand how their parts function within the composition. Second, I require the students
complete a discussion post. Through this activity the students are responding to a writing prompt, thinking about
what they have heard, and providing evidence of their thoughts using content vocabulary. Third, after they hear the
performance, their own understanding of the piece improves.
You Never Know!
School Social Media Policy
I work with primary aged children. Children are much younger than social
media terms of service. Having children use social media at this age is not
Amy Musone
even a consideration.
Educator
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom Central York School
District, PA
I leveraged Facebook to connect with local artists. After learning about
the history of their community and the history of a loved one, learners
wanted to learn more about the people around them. They were surveyed.
The majority of learners wanted to learn more about local artists. I used
Facebook to seek out and communicate with artists. Many came in for
interviews and the children captured oral histories. One artist asked if the class wanted to have an art show in his
gallery. Of course! The children were excited. They determined the theme of the show, We Make York. All their artwork
featured some aspect of the community. ALL pieces were sold. They earned $600, which they donated to purchase art
supplies for a local school.

The Impact on Students

The learning was of high interest and authentic. The learning extended well beyond the curriculum. They were
speaking with experts, creating, crafting questions and conducting interviews, researching community history, having
a public display of their work, and giving back to their community. It was unforgettable.
School Wide Community
School Social Media Policy

Standard policy regarding acceptable use. Teachers are allowed to use

social media within classrooms.
Brock Tracy
Health Educator
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom Wayne Elementary, PA

I run the school Twitter account, and we use it as a vehicle for our school
wide PBIS program. This allows us to connect with the community
in a more engaging and interactive form. It also provides the school
community with insight into the “things” happening in the building each
week.

The Impact on Students

Students are more eager to be involved and to be “seen”. Students want

their families and communities to see them and the great things we do
each week. It also draws more families and community members to join
Twitter and follow us to stay included.
Student News Articles on Twitter
School Social Media Policy
Though the district restricts interaction and direct messaging between
teachers and students, teachers are encouraged to host informational
accounts (Twitter and Instagram, primarily) to communicate and share out Denise Shovlin
classroom ideas/information.
English Teacher,
Tech Innovator
Example of Social Media Use in the Classroom
Downingtown West HS, PA
Our school newspaper has transitioned from a traditional paper published
periodically to an online news site that is updated frequently. I maintain
and advise the West Side Beat twitter account as a way to keep our
students, staff, and stakeholders updated about the news in our school
and local community from the point of view of our students. I Tweet out
links to articles, solicit information about events in the community, and
gauge interest and interaction on published stories using the power of
Twitter!

The Impact on Students

The students look forward to seeing their published article appear not only on the West Side Beat site, but also on the
online newspaper’s Twitter account. They enjoy that the audience for our news site is expanded; our school community
has access, yes, but community members, stakeholders, business owners, and people outside of our building can also
visit our site and see the work of our students. They have put more thought into their work knowing that their audience
is larger and wider, often choosing topics with more relevance, recency, and human interest. It allows us to interact with
the community in a way that we were previously unable to do when our paper was published only in print.
Conclusion

Thanks to the insights of educators from around our community, it’s clear that those who use social
media in the classroom find it incredibly beneficial for staying connected to students, parents, and
beyond. With so many platforms and methods of integrating social media into your class routine,
there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Take an idea or two from this eBook and try them in your classroom, then let us know how it turns
out on Twitter @Schoology!

Want to learn more about using technology in the classroom?

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