How to engage students through social media

Many students are more intersted in social media than what is happening in your class. Apps like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat grab students attention and hold it longer than the majority of teachers.

Here's how you can make your class material easily accessible via social media and grab students attention even when they aren't in class.

First off, establish what app is used by the majority of students in the class.

What app are all the kids in a given class using and are willing to follow your account on? 

1. Create an account with a bio that establishes exactly what the page will be used for.

Flip through the articles provided in this link to get general ideas on what may or may not be appropriate for a social media account for your class:

https://www.edutopia.org/blog/social-media-resources-educators-matt-davis

2. Apply it to YOUR class and YOUR students. What do they want to see?

• Post assignment due dates 
• Allow them to ask questions but establish a time when you'll be regularly answering questions
• What will benefit your students? Are they visual learners? Will they watch videos you post? Should you make checking the account madatory? 

Here's an example of an art teacher's class instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mohrbachsartroom/

Are your students responding positively? Are they involved in your account or are you only getting responses from a couple already involved students? 

You'll know your account is doing the trick if your students are actively partipating. Are they asking questions regularly on it? How many students awknowledge your post on a regular basis?

Do you feel as if this process has caused you more trouble than it has the students good? Have you seen any difference in the involvment of your students? 

Created by Megan Carney