Think Facebook (FB) and Twitter are just a waste of a teacher’s or student’s time? Definitely not when the content they are sending or sharing contributes to furthering learning.

Here are some ways to make these social networking sites become useful for learning:

Facebook

This very popular social networking site can help disseminate any school-related news or info fast and easy. For example, by “Liking” SmartSchools on FB, teachers get to regularly receive education-related articles and tips.

Teachers or student bodies can easily create an account or page for knowledge sharing or group discussions. Search Pisay (Philippine Science High School) on FB for an example of a local high school fan page.

To help make Facebook a safer place for kids and students, Facebook created safety and education contents that provide information for teachers and concerned parents.

Twitter

This social networking platform is used worldwide and especially in education (search hash tags; edchat or edtech).  Urgent and important news and updates (of up to 140 characters) can be sent/received through this social media tool. For example, teachers can stay in touch with Smart Schools by following its Twitter account.

With safety controls soon to be available, Twitter will become more useful in promoting learning. 

Blogs

A web log or online journal, blog is another social media tool which a teacher or group of students can use to post information, record opinions, and get feedbacks on a regular basis.

An example of this is SmartSchools’ Doon Po Sa Amin which encourages students to share something unique about their own local community thru creative and meaningful blogs. 

Another Smart Communications’ initiative, Journ.ph is a free online platform where schools can create a blog for their campus publication. Through the Journ.ph site, student journalists can now publish campus and community stories anytime and anywhere through Internet connection!

There is a new term called "Educational Networking" which means “utilizing social networking technologies for educational purposes." Below are some of the popular educational networking tools available today: 

1. Edublogs is one of the most popular education blogging service which allows both students and teachers to easily create and manage blogs, with customized designs, videos, photos, and podcasts. 
EDU 2.0 is a cloud-hosted Learning Management System (LMS) where teachers can share for free lesson plans, exams, and other materials in a shared library that currently offers 15,000 pieces of content. It also offers a community section where teachers and students can network.

Started by Steve Hargadon, Classroom 2.0 is a social network for those interested in Web 2.0 and social media in education. Used by thousands of teachers on a daily basis, it offers another free platform for discussions, sharing of resources, and development of lab projects.

2. Edutopia is created by the George Lucas Foundation. This is another educational networking site rich with resources where teachers can browse topics by grade level, learn strategies, blog, join communities and learn of case studies that work.

3. Another educational community, Intel Education Teachers Engage Community, boasts  of engaging 10 million teachers to increase teachers technology literacy.

Try one of these social media tools now and bring your teaching to a higher level!