How to Turn Social Media Addiction into Classroom Learning!




Historically, I have used Pinterest as a way to find new ideas for my Middle School classes.  Generally, I find an idea that I like, pin it, and then tweak it to suit my students.  

Now I have been thinking that I will use it to entice my social media addicted students into learning by creating boards for my students to use.  





What kinds of boards, you ask?  How about...



1.  A board for each unit topic where students will get links to appropriate sites for class assignments, projects, homework help, study materials and more!

Follow Mrs. Spangler in the Middle's board Learning Strategies Class on Pinterest.


2.  Collaborative boards for group projects.  Students can contribute to the project via a Pinterest board.  Since you can control who is allowed to contribute, you can keep it safe and even delete pins if necessary.

3.  Collaborative boards for homework assignments.  What if you set up a board for each class and then asked your students to find the best example of something like context clues on Pinterest with the added caveat that no there could be no duplications?  

First, it's a great way to work with the concept of inquiry.  

Next, if you look across those 6 boards and see a pattern emerging, you might have uncovered some important information about your students.  
  • For example, if you found that many of the pins were music related in let's say, your first-period class, then it might be a good idea to integrate more music into that period.
  • I also think it would be a great bell-ringer/ exit ticket to ask why each student chose his/her pin.  There might be something about that pin that really reaches someone!


4.  Collaborative boards for digital class work  (or homework) assignments that have been created somewhere on the world wide web or via an app that can be pinned to be turned in.
  • It might be fun to share this board with parents on a class website so they can see their childrens' work!



5.  A board of video clips that I plan show to the class.  That would definitely help me save time!  Absent students could access the videos from home and students who would like to see the video again to review can do so!


Follow Mrs. Spangler in the Middle's board Class Videos on Pinterest.



I think these boards can be very relevant and engaging to the students because they will have helped to create them!  

Plus, imagine how much they can get out of the boards all while still feeding their social media addiction!

Thanks for stopping by!