Using Social Media in the Classroom: A Best Practice Guide - Softcover

Poore, Megan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 144620281X ISBN 13: 9781446202814

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012

Synopsis

Using Social Media in the Classroom is an essential guide to Web 2.0 sites and services, providing both an overview of different types of digital technologies as well as constructive guidance on how to safely and intelligently use them as tools for learning.

This comprehensive, accessible textbook 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.

Analysis of important contemporary topics is also including:

• Digital literacy and new modes of learning
• Digital participation and overcoming the ′digital divide′
• Cyberbullying and understanding risk online

About this title

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

′It’s the information provided in the book and on the website, and the ease of navigation Dr Poore has created in using social media in learning, that make it an essential resource for teachers. The extensive and useful contents pages clearly identify the ‘topics’: the nuts and bolts of social media, as well as the ways of accessing them, using them and thinking about them′
-James Dellit, J&J Dellit blog

′It is refreshing to come across a book which combines practical ideas, tips and considerations with serious pedagogical content. It considers how to use social media in the class, as well as why this is such as great opportunity to promote learning and what we should be looking for to ensure students are being appropriately challenged. It is written in accessible language, de-mystifying concepts for the beginner, and challenging experienced social media users to focus on higher-order thinking skills rather than on the ′bells and whistles′ technology itself. Highly recommended′
>Margaret Meredith, Senior Lecturer Primary Education
York St John University

′This book claims to ′bring together the information you need to safely, knowledgeable and creatively integrate social media in your classroom′. It does a good job.

It is not a step-by-step how to guide - there are plenty of those on line. It is an accessible, informative read that will give the teacher the background they need on the topic, ideas of how to get started and useful advice on putting ideas into practice. The inclusion of advice on how to scaffold the introduction of social media to learners is particularly welcome.

Importantly; risk, safety, the digital divide and anticipation of problems are discussed - the things that can otherwise put teachers off. Links are made to educational theory, with reference to further reading for those who want to explore this further.

I would recommend it to practicing teachers, trainee teachers and those involved in the training and development of teachers′
-Andrew Connell, Keele University

′Megan Poore′s Using Social Media in the Classroom provides a balanced and thorough account of that ways in which social media and Web 2.0 technologies can be used by teachers to enhance and support the learning of students across the curriculum. Poore provides a strong rationale for the use of social media in the classroom, and carefully links the technological applications to contemporary learning theory and pedagogical approaches. Her treatment of the possible social media and web 2.0 applications is comprehensive and detailed, and contextualised within the broader issues related to young people and ICTs. Using Social Media in the Classroom will be useful for experienced teachers searching for ways to meaningfully integrate ICTs into their pedagogical repertoire and for teacher education students thinking about how to integrate their current use of social media into their practice′
-Nicole Mockler, The University of Newcastle, Australia

The book has been intelligently and thoughtfully organised and well indexed, creating a highly accessible book from which readers can quickly find and select the parts relevant to them....I can see this book being of immense value to a majority of students and teachers. It is practical, accessible, clearly written and direct. Author: Jillian Dellit

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 144620281X
• ISBN 13: 9781446202814
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288