There is no question about it, today’s students live and breathe social media to interact, stay connected, engage and receive information.  Believe it or not, the information is more than silly memes and pet videos.  Since students are so comfortable using it, why not use it to our advantage in the classroom to keep students engaged, involved and increase student interactivity?  Like the old adage says, “if you can’t beat them, join them.”

There is an array of social networking apps that have been designed specifically for the classroom.  Examples include, Edmondo, Twiducate and ConnectYard from Milady’s MindTap, which provides activities that can be found directly within a learning path.  These social networking apps can help distribute course information, create a sense of community, allow students to upload assignments and ultimately, provide an easy way for educators and students to stay connected.

The possibilities for integrating social networking activities into the classroom are endless. Here are just a few examples:

• Pose a Question – At the end of a lesson have students share what they have learned with their classmates and instructor.
• Discussion Boards – Post an image or a share a link.  Students can participate in an open discussion to compare ideas and share their opinions.
• Assignments – Students can post before and after pictures of their work and provide a recap of the technique or procedure used.
• Daily Inspiration – Post a daily inspirational picture, quote, and/or link.  Keep your students coming back for more!

Instead of viewing social media as a distraction in the classroom, embrace it!  Connect with students using the same tools that they use to connect with each other.