Social media and the classroom!

I have used Jay and Johnson’s Model of reflective practice to structure this reflection (of describe, compare and critically reflect. 

Step 1 (Descriptive stage): The social media tools that I have used in my teaching practice range from using Google Docs to collaborate and share, getting inspiration from Pinterest, scrolling Twitter, connecting with families using Class Dojo and many more. This term I have experimented with the use of Class Dojo to engage with whanau. Here are some quick screenshot of some of the interactions that have been taking place using Class Dojo. 

Step 2 (Comparative stage): Social media can be used for a range of different purposes in the classroom. I am interested in how it can be used to connect with parents. Pakuranga Colleges’ Rosin Lamb, talks about the way that her school uses social media to connect with their parents. She shares that an awareness of the audience is important. My audience, the whanau, in my classroom are largely english second language and therefore social media that is rich in videos and photographs will be easiest for them to interact with. For whanau, it is important that social media is quick, easy and free. It needs to be accessed on a Smartphone, without using great amounts of data. Embracing Social Media (Magette, 2014), shares the importance of social media tools being free, accessible and easy to use by parents; Class Dojo fits into this category. Teachers are able to partner with parents by opening up communication. Magette (2014), suggests that teacher needs to use strategies that are going to get the most views and interactions from parents. A strategy such as using photographs (or handwritten signs held by children) rather than typed posts is proven to get more interaction from parents. Kathy Cassidy, a primary school teacher, uses social media to share her children’s learning using voice recordings, photographs and videos to share their learning with the world. 

Step 3 (critical reflection): Looking forward to next year, what I have read has confirmed what I already knew to be truth about social media and they way that it can be used within the classroom to communicate with whanau and share my students learning. I hadn’t thought about adapting the way that I use social media to fit with my audience, our school whanau. I am interested to learn ways in which I can effectively use social media to connect with whanau who largely only have access to smartphones and speak english as a second language.. 

Does anyone have any tips on how to connect with whanau using social media?