Social Media in Education

Teachers, admin, and students alike--almost everyone has a social media presence! Today, teachers have the largest sea of resources to improve their instruction skills. The sheer number of websites, blogs, and accounts can be quite overwhelming, so I've gathered a few educational technology resources that have been helpful in my career.

ClassPoint - Youtube

ClassPoint, created by INKNOE Product, is a student engagement tool integrated into PowerPoint. This channel not only provides demonstrations on how to implement ClassPoint in your lessons, but it also addresses a wide variety of educational technology topics. Last month, Sara, the face of the channel, discussed AI strategies for differentiation in the classroom. You can watch that video here. ClassPoint has excellent resources for how teachers can effectively engage students with hidden PowerPoint features and other technology tools (like ChatGPT).

ISTE - Instagram

While many teachers are quite familiar with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), their Instagram page, isteconnects, collaborates with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) to provide professional development opportunities and insights into new educational technology resources. Recently, they posted ideas to increase student enjoyment in the classroom. One slide states, "Combine high-tech with high touch. It's not about more tech--it's about better tech. Pair coding with cardboard. Mix robotics with art. Prioritize experience, not the screen." (See post here). ISTE posts multiple times a week with a special focus on conferences and leadership resources.

Graduate Programs for Educators - Blog

This website was founded by a nationwide alliance of teachers determined to improve their instructional skills. Graduate Programs for Educators is a collaborative pool of resources for instructors teaching grades K-12. It focuses on navigating education as the world changes around us. Blogs are posted by an array of educators with impressive credentials. For example, Misty Hance, an elementary school teacher with a doctorate in education, recently uploaded a blogpost called "How Learning Through Gamification Keeps Students Engaged." These posts are robust with theory and real-life applications.

I hope you found these resources helpful for your classroom. Educational technology is an increasingly vital aspect in our classrooms. Let's work to stay informed of the best resources available to us to provide the best possible education to our students.