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Using Social Media in the Classroom
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Using Social Media in the Classroom
A Best Practice Guide

Second Edition
  • Megan Poore - Australian National University, Australia


December 2015 | 312 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

 ‘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.


 
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

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.

Cheryl Hine
Leeds City College

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.

Alison Hardy
Nottingham Trent University

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.  

 
Sue Howarth
Institute of Education, University of Worcester

The book is highly matched with the content of the educational concept and useful for my students.

Dr Behic Aytekin
Communications, Adnan Menderes University
February 12, 2018

Very interesting read, although not crucial for students but will enhance learning

Miss Susan Rabbitt
Bolton Business School, Bolton University
November 18, 2015

This is a very usable text for teachers beginning to think about how to make best use of digital technologies in their teaching. It explores new forms of learning and digital literacy alongside the risks associated with these. It also suggests how to use various digital tools to enhance teaching practice. Activities punctuate the various sections of the book to encourage readers to try out different ideas. This is a very helpful and timely book for experienced teachers who may feel left behind by technology but it is also a very practical guide for new teachers thinking about using technologies for learning for the first time.

Dr Louise Campbell
Moray House School of Education, Edinburgh University
February 17, 2017

This book is essential reading for any practitioners looking to adopt greater use of social networking within their environment to support the education of Millennials

Mr Geoffrey Martin Hughes
Teacher Education, Leicester College
January 19, 2016

This book is the supplemental resource for Introduction to Digital Media Lesson. Its content is very well indexed for using social media about educational approaches.

Dr Behic Alp Aytekin
Communications , Adnan Menderes Universitesi
August 31, 2016

Easy reading and a good introduction to apps and blogs that may be used within the classroom before and during the trainees' teaching practice. Social media is explained clearly and the reflective tasks are a good way of making them focus on how to critically consider the use of social media in primary schools.

The website is a useful addition to their reading.

Mrs Nesta Wynne Elliott
School of Education, Bangor University
July 7, 2016

This is an engaging and accessible text dealing with core issues relating to the use of social media in classroom contexts. It gives historical context as well as providing information that teachers will find useful - it is a highly practical guide which looks at such topics as 'wiki rubrics', 'podcasting' and using bookmarking to have pupils collate and justify their own learning resources.

Dr Louise Campbell
Moray House School of Education, Edinburgh University
August 22, 2016

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