Educational Technology Article Review

Article Review: 

A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom by, Vicki Davis

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Photo Source: Edutopia Article Linked Above 

Article Review: Read it, link it, discuss it

I chose to read the article, A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom by, Vicki Davis for a few different reasons.  I have discussed my love for edutopia in previous posts, so that struck my interest.  I also was drawn to this article because I do not have my own classroom YET, so I want to make sure that when I do I am prepared for all forms of educational technology.  I also went into reading this article with some background knowledge in personal social media, but not a lot of experience in using social media within the classroom.

Let's Jump Right In....

Vicki Davis peaks interest in starting this article with a quick quiz.  The question is, "Is social media relevant?"  It asks questions like, 1. Should we teach letter writing? 2. Should we teach email? 3. Should we teach social media? Vicki Davis's answers to these question is YES we should teach social media because that is what is currently relevant in students lives and what can help them in the future through connection.  She describes letter writing and email in the form that many people describe social media; scary and a way to open people up to millions.  It was a very interesting take on letter writing and email that I had not thought of.  It is something that students should be taught, but has the same outcome that many social media platforms too have.  

After opening up the article with such a powerful quiz, Vicki Davis goes on to describe social media in the classroom.  She discusses myths like that if we include social media our students will be tweeting and snapchatting instead of learning.  I agreed with Vicki that this would not be the case if expectations were set and the right forms of social media were brought into the classroom.  Vicki describes social media as a way to bring conversation for all into the classroom.  After reading this my inclusive heart sung.  Blogging would be a GREAT way to incorporate conversation into the classroom and collaboration among many classrooms within the school. It would also be a way to connect with students across the world and share social projects that your class is working on. Twitter would be a GREAT exit ticket tool.  Facebook would be a GREAT way to get feedback from your students projects.  

I thoroughly enjoyed this article and the lesson ideas that came with it.  Overall Vicki is correct, social media is a tool that can be used in classrooms.  After reading this article I will be incorporating social media into my future classroom...not because I too love social media.  I will be incorporating social media into my future classroom due to Vicki's closing statement.....

Photo Source: Edutopia Article Linked Above