1. Jerany Medina, Tara Bedwell, Maria Olberding
Social Media
Jerany Medina, Tara Bedwell, Maria Olberding
By: Jerany Medina, Tara Bedwell & Maria Olberding

2. What Is Social Media?
-”forms of electronic communication (as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos)” (Merriam-webster)
Breaking it down:
Social: Interacting with others as well as viewing others’ information and sharing your information with others.
Media: Internet, not tv or radio.

3. Types of Social Media You Can Use in the Classroom
Using social media in the classroom can put you a step ahead in communication with your students and your students parents.
Seesaw.me
Twitter.com
Facebook.com
Gonoodle.com
Skype

4. Why You Like/Dislike These Sites
Although these social medias have a lot of useful tools there are a few things that you may want to think about before you start using them.
Seesaw
Twitter
Twitter is a lot like facebook in the way that most people use it. I also find that it is not the most private social media..
Seesaw is easy to use and is familiar to people because it is like Facebook. However, it is something people have never used so they might not give it a chance.
Skype
I like the idea of using skype in the classroom but i know from experience there is a problem with quality video calling on this social media. So I might have to look for a different video calling app.
Gonoodle
Gonoodle is an easy way for children and parents to have fun together and gain points while doing it. I did not find anything I did not really like.
Facebook
Facebook is a social media that many people us so it is well known and most people know how it works. One of the problems with using this social media in the classroom is the safety issue.

5. How Can It Be Used In the Classroom?
Seesaw
Skype
Gonoodle
Seesaw is a lot like facebook in the way that it is organized. This website could be a major way that you connect with parents.
Skype can be used to show students different places in the world and have presentations from people without them actually coming into the classroom.
Gonoodle allows kids to have a place that they can be active and learn at the same time. This can be used in the classroom in many different ways.

6. The Pros of Using Social Media in the Classroom
Using Social Media in the classroom can be controversial, but these are the pros of using it: (Ex: Twitter in Lincoln Performing Arts)
Prepares students for Future: If you introduce social media to students at a young age they will learn to use social media in many different ways. Technology is becoming a huge part of today’s society and will allow them to be fluent in using it.
Increases Student Collaboration: This allows students to be able to contact one another about an assignment or even contact their educator. It also allows parents to collaborate with their child’s teacher about their thoughts or concerns.
Encourages Participation: This allows students who are afraid to participate in the classroom to be able to express their thoughts or feelings on the social media site. It can also build the student’s confidence regarding their engagement in the classroom.
Shares Resources Quickly: If an educator asks his/her students to go to a website it may be difficult for some students as they may type in an incorrect key. The educator could easily share the link with all of his/her students and allow them to find the social media site quickly as well as cause less frustration.

7. The Cons of using Social Media in the Classroom
1. Social media can be a distraction in class
2. Improper use of social media in the classroom
3. Using social media in the classroom can detract from human interaction
4. Cyber bullying on social media websites
5. Posting inappropriate content on social media websites

8. Why Is It Beneficial?
1. Social media sites can increase student collaboration
2. Using social media in the classroom can encourage more participation
3. Social media sites can be useful for homework help
4. Share resources quickly when using social media in the classroom
5. Social media helps keep parents, teachers and students all on the same page

9. Reflection
Through the research for this project we have realized that there are many pros and cons to using social media in the classroom. It is clear that many of these social medias can help you connect to parents and help your student stay engaged when you are teaching. However, we have to be careful to choose social medias that are safe and that enhance learning in the classroom.

10. Resources
Lederer, K. 2012, January 19. Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom. Retrieved March 19, , from the-classroom.aspx
Nations, D. 2017, March 09. What is Social Media? Explaining the Big Trend. Retrieved from
Vancouver Web Development Services. (2016, May 30). 5 pros and cons of social media in the classroom for educational use. Retrieved March 19, 2017, from
Merriam Webster Social Media. Retrieved from webster.com/dictionary/social%20media
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