EDU 929 Social Media ~ Implementation Ideas by Erik Wittmer

Using Instagram as a Digital Bulletin Board

racheltwigg2 — 2024-03-25 00:52:13 UTC

While Facebook may be beneficial due to the groups one is able to create, Instagram may have more practical advantages when considering a social media platform for an elementary class. Since Instagram is such a content driven platform, I would be able to share and connect families to many helpful resources. I would be able to showcase their student’s academic journey through pictures much like a digital bulletin board. Once pictures are posted I could provide additional resources related to the material posted. The content could be focused solely on the curriculum and content we are covering in class

Instagram as a PLN

racheltwigg2 — 2024-03-25 00:56:18 UTC

If I am using the same social media platform for my students, most likely Instagram, then I would consider making a separate account exclusively for my own professional learning.Having a separate account would also be useful if I ever moved grades or our curriculum drastically changed. I could do some more research and edit my follows accordingly. The use of social media for PLN’s is useful for me especially this year. We currently have a team of five first grade teachers. Due to scheduling, my class has a special at the end of the day. The rest of the team has their special/planning time an hour prior. I don’t have as many opportunities to chat and discuss areas of struggle, things we have learned, and tips that I did last year.Currently I would like ideas for some supplementary ELA materials, math materials and manipulatives, and phenomena based science lessons. I would be able to find another user's pictures of materials and most likely a link to where the materials can be accessed.

Instagram to garner parent and student engagement

2024-03-25 17:41:15 UTC

When I was student teaching, I used Instagram as a way to bolster engagement with my students. I posted daily with assignments, upcoming test/quizzes, and I also posted a daily trivia question that could earn them extra credit or prizes. I moved to posting about projects my students did and it garnered a lot of positive feedback from their parents who also started following my page. A lot of times, parents don't truly know what their child is learning, so when parents saw the trivia question, saw that their child responded with the correct answer, it actually opened the door for students and their parents to really talk about what they're learning about.

This time around, I would make an Insta account for each of my courses, where I could post daily/weekly. I would share it out to parents who may want to join so they can see what's upcoming and what their student may be doing in their class at the time.

Giving Instagram A Unique Purpose

2024-04-07 05:10:20 UTC

I currently teach elementary autistic support and I've always used my Instagram almost as a digital, continuous yearbook. Many times, copying/pasting content from ClassDojo and/or X. I'd like to utilize my Instagram more as a resource for other autistic support teachers, as well as a place for community engagement. Upon searching facebook groups, I was only able to find 1 group for AS teachers to exist. It can be difficult to find authentic, useful Instagram accounts that aren't spammed out with sponsored marketing. By differentiating the type of content I post and having a purpose for Instagram, I am more likely to want to use it and not feel like it is something I need to keep updated. I would like to use my Instagram more to share awareness and acceptance of Autism, to collaborate with other AS teachers, and to consistently involve my following in ways I am not doing on other social media platforms. This may look like a weekly post with a fact, resource, poll, or trivia question. I could have a highlight series for parent tips/trainings and one for AS terminology break-down. I also like the idea of using Instagram throughout the year to present a 'student spotlight' showcasing up to 10 photos/videos of that student and/or their work. Implementing the above ideas would help me use Instagram more effectively.

Instagram & Facebook to Boost Family Engagement

2024-04-08 22:51:39 UTC

I currently use X and TikTok the most for my own professional learning, including gathering and sharing new ideas and resources. I believe creating and maintaining a PLN is essential to grow as an educator. "Education is not a static profession" (Whitby, 2014). By being a connected teacher, I am modeling to students and families the value and convenience of using social media. I'm not only receiving relevant information (thank you algorithms!), but I can also share and collaborate with others in my field from all over the world. I can create new experiences for my students, such as virtual field trips, through the use of social media. My district uses X and Facebook the most. My district could organize Facebook by creating groups (buildings) under their main page. By doing this, the targeted audience can be better served with relevant, specific information that applies to them/their child. I also think if this were the consistent set-up, teachers creating class groups may have a better following/participation. I plan to use Facebook groups and Instagram more to better engage my families using features I don't use (or aren't available) on ClassDojo and X. I can use Facebook photo albums and/or reels and Instagram stories/highlights to create an ongoing series 'AS 101' - that provides a general break-down of autistic support including IEP language, VB-MAPP operants and examples, tips/tricks (potty training), defining terminology: positive and promissory reinforcement, variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, etc. I can use both platforms to create polls, including fun polls such as summer plans, to simply boost participation. I can use Facebook to create events, such as our community nights, that will track RSVPs, be a place for details and questions, automatically send reminders to guests who RSVP'd yes or interested, and could be a hub to share photos during/after the event. Lastly, I can utilize Facebook and Instagram livestream for assemblies and to showcase community nights.

Instagram for insta-ideas & activities

2024-06-25 00:16:39 UTC

Our district just started the shift from X to Instagram and I would like to make the transition within the next year. I currently use ClassDojo which I find to be similar to Instagram in regards to the "stream" and posts. Because I have an established Dojo account with 98% parent connection, I would like to be able to focus the class Instagram on day-to-day activities that have extensions. I want to give parents access to information, materials, resources, etc. to expand on our learnings. This would foster communication between school and home AND student and parent. It would also ensure that skills are being transferred and repeated for higher retainment.

A.Mearig

Creating a FB group to collaborate with other Unifed Sports coaches and Special Olympics sponsors at the HS level

2024-06-29 22:02:05 UTC

When I was searching for Facebook groups, I couldn’t really find one that fit a goal I had. I thought it would be really beneficial to have a group for those involved with Special Olympics at the high school level, specifically, those that coach or participate with Unified Sports. I found individual district pages and the PA Special Olympics page, but nothing that brought all of the Unified programs statewide together for collaboration. I may embark on creating such a space!

Department Instagram

2024-07-09 19:26:17 UTC

I plan on creating an Instagram account for our Business Department. We are always doing awesome projects and going on fun field trips and it would be great to share these things with the public. By creating a department account, it would take less pressure off each individual teacher and share a wider variety of topics like Intro to Business projects, work study achievements, and FBLA trips and fundraisers. Combining accounts would also help to create a bigger following on one page.

Instagram for Weekly Updates

2024-07-11 16:40:41 UTC

When thinking of how to utilize social media as a professional tool within my second grade classroom two ideas come to mind and I will share one idea within this post. First, I would like to utilize Instagram to strengthen the connection between school and home. My school uses ClassDojo to communicate with families, but there have been occurrences where families simply do not connect, or they don’t have enough storage on their phone to download the app. I plan on utilizing Instagram to digitize my weekly newsletter. Rather than sending home, a paper copy of my Weekly Wave, I can simply create a post on Instagram to give parents an overview of our previous week, or a preview of our upcoming week. I plan to implement the 4-1-1 Rule when it comes to posting, and I will stick to a strict posting schedule. For every 6 posts, 4 of them will be either unique, valuable, amusing, or educating, 1 will be promotional, and another will be a repost. I could also post Instagram stories to remind parents to check ClassDojo for lengthy and very specific updates for the classroom! They may not always get the dojo notification, but typically in this day and age people are very connected to social media.

Instagram Ideas - Ashley Stank

2024-10-30 15:48:13 UTC

I do not have an Instagram account. However, knowing that this platform is great for media content. I think it would be fun to use it to showcase real-life math fails. I could take pictures of common math fails while out shopping or from the news.

This approach can help students see the relevance of math in the world around them and fosters them to think critically.

Additionally, I could challenge families to find and post real-life math fails that they are seeing while out together which will spark meaningful conversations!

Reading Recommendations

2024-10-31 23:11:34 UTC

I am constantly recommending books to learners, but the best recommendations come from their peers. Instagram is a great platform for learners to share their favorite books and series. Since so many learners - particularly the 7th and 8th graders - already use Instagram, getting them to take a look without it being an assignment has a good chance of success.

Additionally, I like the idea of learners sharing unique and interesting photos to Instagram. These can be used as springboards for writing assignments or connections to vocabulary words.

Matt Baker

Student Music Performances on Instagram, by Daniel McGrogan: As an instrumental music teacher, I plan to use Instagram to share student performances, both formal concerts and more spontaneous moments in class. There are copyright restrictions that have to be followed, but we have plenty of music that is public domain or even student created. My students and their families would be thrilled to see their performances on social media.

2024-11-02 17:07:52 UTC

Mathematician of the Week- Ryan Kennedy- 5th Grade Math

2024-11-07 02:00:41 UTC

I could use Instagram to highlight a weekly award for "Mathematician of the Week". This award could go to one student per class who exemplifies math habits, practices, and dispositions that we focus on in class including: perseverance, reasoning, precision and attention to detail, mathematical communication, openness to mistakes and learning from them, curiosity and exploration, and connecting math to real-life contexts. I would post a picture of the student with a caption highlighting their achievement. I think parents would enjoy seeing their kids being recognized for this award.