Creating Student-Centered Mobile Learning Networks Using Facebook, Twitter, and Cell Phones

NCTE Position Statement: 21 st Century Literacies Develop proficiency with tools of technology Pose and solve problems collaboratively and cross-culturally Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multi-media text

Today’s Students and Technology “To them (today’s students), the smartphone, the Internet, and everything technological are not "tools" at all—they simply are. Just as we don't think about the existence of air, they don't question the existence of technology and media. They expect technology to be there, and they expect it to do whatever they want it to do. Their WWW doesn't stand for World Wide Web; it stands for Whatever, Whenever, Wherever.” Educational Leadership – February 2011 “Teaching the iGeneration” Larry D. Rosen

The Technology Gap “…the development of 21 st Century literacies occurs most frequently outside of school environments, rather than in school” (Writing Between the Lines…2; Cuban, 2001; Madden, Ford, Miller and Levy, 2005; Leu et al; Hansford and Adlington, 2009; Project Tomorrow, 2009).

Reading and Writing has Fundamentally Changed  “…the rise in social networking requires new literacies and have become important contexts for literacy, learning, and life” (Leu et al 37).

Why Facebook and Twitter? VS.

How can we teach students to use these tools purposefully and effectively?

Integrated Uses / Activities Communication Student and Parent Communication Club Management Collaboration Collaborative Multimedia Projects Discussions Content Management Systems Content Management System

Using Facebook in School Dual Identity Concept Professional Account Pseudonym Symbolic Picture Limited to school activities

Using Social Media for Communication

Facebook Inbox: Answer Student Questions

Facebook Profile: Homework Updates

Twitter Integration: Homework Updates

Cell Phone Integration: Homework Updates Receive Homework Updates on your Phone! 1.Send the following text message: “On mrslowinski” to You will receive a text message back from Twitter. 3.Reply with “signup” 4.You will receive another text message back from Twitter asking for an existing account or for you to create a username. 5.Reply with a username that you’ll create for yourself. Now you will receive homework updates via text message!

Facebook Pages/Groups: Parent Communication

Cell Phone Integration: Text Updates

Facebook Pages: Club Management

Club Management

Twitter Integration: Club Management

Using Social Media for Collaboration Collaborative Multimedia Projects Discussions Writing Collaboration: Peer Review

Multimedia Projects Practice new ways to demonstrate knowledge of concepts Students enjoy working with multimedia Authentic publication increases motivation Students from other classes are interested

Online Literature Circles  Uses Facebook’s “Groups” or “Pages” Feature  Allows small groups of students a secure place to discuss novels  Weekly requirements  Work on connecting to texts, asking questions, using multimedia  Collaborative discussions

Using Social Media as a Content Management System

Content Management System The Facebook Classroom Incorporates Groups, Notes, Inbox, Wall, and Pages Students access online assignments and readings Weekly due dates and checkpoints Students post all of their work into the class group Students receive feedback and grades via Inbox

Other Uses for Cell Phones

PollEverywhere.com Exit Tickets Anticipatory Set Classroom Survey

Other Uses for Cell Phones Text your inquiry to

Other Uses for Twitter

Other Uses for Twitter: Student Accounts Use the hash tags for: Summarization activities Feedback on presentations Brainstorming activities Questions during lectures

Other Uses for Twitter Embed Twitter Feed into Website Helps to gain followers Communicate with non-Twitter users Available at: widgets/widget_profile widgets/widget_profile

Benefits Differentiation Increased student motivation 21 st Century literacy instruction Collaboration 24/7 classroom

Contact Information Mike Slowinski Library Media Coordinator West De Pere School District Phone: (920) Ext Facebook Page: West De Pere School District Libraries Twitter:wdplibraries