Using Social Media in the Classroom: A Best Practice Guide

 ‘A book for every teacher’s bookshelf. This book gives a comprehensive overview of the tools and apps that can be used to help turn a mediocre teaching session into an outstanding one.’ - Cheryl Hine, Leeds City College ‘Megan Poore’s updated text is needed more than ever, as social media becomes increasingly integrated in many aspects of education. I would recommend it to all practising teachers and trainee teachers, whatever their subject.’ - Sue Howarth, University of Worcester This is an essential guide to using social media to enhance teaching and learning in schools. It combines practical information on using all forms of social media for educational purposes and provides indispensable advice on how to tackle issues arising from social media use in the classroom. Key topics include: using blogs, wikis, social media networks and podcasting, digital literacy and new modes of learning, digital participation, cyberbullying and understanding risk online. This second edition includes: ·         Reflective tasks in each chapter inviting you to critically consider important aspects of using social media in education. ·         Expanded coverage of game-based learning and mobile learning. ·         New examples tailored for use in primary and secondary schools. ·         A website including additional resources and handouts c. This is essential reading for anyone training to teach in schools, and experienced teachers seeking to improve their understanding of using social media for teaching in informed and appropriate ways.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Getting Started: The Essentials Social media and education Sound educational design using social media Common aspects of social media functions and practice Part 2 Social Contexts ‘Digital natives’, new learning, and digital literacy The digital divide and digital participation Cyberbullying Understanding risk online Practical and in-class considerations Part 3 The ‘Big Four’ Blogs Wikis Social networks Podcasting, music, and audio Part 4 Enriching Your Practice Visual media Instant messaging, Chat, Skype, and Twitter Bookmarking, Pintrest, mindmapping, and polls Educational games Mobile learning Productivity tools

About the Author :
Megan Poore is the PhD Academic and Research Skills Advisor at the ANU’s Crawford School of Public Policy. She is known for her best practice approaches to integrating digital technologies into both university and school settings, and this includes developing strong digital pedagogies as well as sound approaches to risk management. She has also held the position of Assistant Professor in Teacher Education at the University of Canberra, and has worked as an educational designer at the Australian Catholic University, giving her a unique understanding of the issues that confront students and teachers in the integration of digital technologies into their everyday study and work practices. Megan holds a PhD in Social Anthropology from the Australian National University.

Review :
A book for every teacher’s bookshelf This book has a similar layout to the first edition.  The chapter commences with useful theoretical information followed by a task to reinforce learning.  At the end of every chapter is a recommended reading or resource list. The chapter relating to cyber bullying is extremely useful for teachers and students alike, enabling them to know and understand the importance of identifying potential threats online.  The activity assists in the identification of a bullying profile.  The use of case studies also highlights the problems that can occur through lack of awareness. Teaching blended or online learning is on the increase in most education establishments, therefore the chapter on ‘Enriching your practice’ is an essential part of the teacher’s resource pack.  Creative teaching in the classroom is enhanced with online tools and games as many students now expect to use Google classrooms, hangouts, Skype, Blogs and Wikis as part of their normal learning, whether  it is in the classroom or online.  The book gives a comprehensive overview of the tools and apps that can be used to help turn a mediocre teaching session into an outstanding one. The companion website ensures that teaching staff have access to relevant links and handouts that can be used in the classroom.  The use of the website will facilitate the development of outstanding and creative lessons. The chapter structure eases readers into using social media through starting with how to set up accounts, followed by ideas on how to use them with classes, with reflections that enable you to think about some of the wider issues about using social media. This book is accessible for those just starting but also challenges those who are competent users of social media to think about how they use it and why, encouraging teachers to use their knowledge about how children learn to plan effective and creative use of social media in the classroom. A good book to get you started but also to deepen your thinking about not only how to use social media but why you should use it with a 21st Century class. Using Social Media in the Classroom, 2nd edition, delivers more than just an update to the – already very good – 1st edition.  Updates on technologies & tools and how they are used in the classroom are there as expected, but the new, greater depth of treatment about educational games and mobile learning, now given an extra chapter each, really adds an extra dimension.   Whether you are new to using social media, familiar with some areas or an expert across the board, you will find much of interest within this comprehensive, yet easy to read, guide.  There are also many ‘gems’ scattered throughout the book such as how to create – and remember- passwords and how to find out what exactly young people are doing online in specific countries.   Megan Poore’s updated text is needed more than ever, as social media become increasingly integrated in many aspects of education. I would recommend it to all practising teachers and trainee teachers, whatever their subject.