5 Rules for Using @ThunderclapIt to Make an Impact + Amplify #StuVoice

Is there a cause or idea your students want to spread? Thunderclap is a great resource to do just that. As described on their site, Thunderclap is the first crowd-speaking platform that helps people be heard by saying something together. You come up with the message and if you reach your supporter goal, Thunderclap will blast out a timed Twitter, Facebook, and/or Tumblr post from all your supporters, creating a wave of attention.

Here's a visual overview of how it works:

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Thinking Outside the Ban Keeps Students Safe Online

Our student's digital footprints usually begin before they ever even start school, but once they're there, it is the job of the 21st century school to ensure parents and their children are developing a positive digital footprint that will result in future success. This does not mean banning, blocking, or scaring children about the dangers of the internet. It does not mean keeping children anonymous online.  It means teachers modeling safe and responsible online behavior.  It means helping students think about what the internet is saying about them and those they know and care about. It means talking to them about how to harness the power of the internet. It means empowering them to create an online persona representative of how they want the world to view them.

The below presentation outlines why it is important to move from banning and blocking social media to empowering students to use this resource. It features real ways this is being done in elementary and secondary school. It also provides ideas for analyzing what the internet says about us and suggests some food for thought around how educators will incorporate social media into their work with their students. 

Facebook in Education on Prezi

50 Reasons to Invite Facebook Into Your Classroom

Over at Mindshift Tina Barseghian shares why we should integrate Facebook into the classroom for obvious reasons like it's fun, free, and students are already using it.  Other benefits are that it allows students to connect and easily share ideas with the world.  If you were on the fence about using Facebook for learning these 50 reasons should provide some motivation to leave the 20th century behind and join your students in their worlds.  Read all the reasons here.

Using Facebook for Learning - Point Counter Point with Nancy Willard

In response to my Using Facebook in Learning Post, Nancy Willard said...

Trying to prepare students for their future without interactive Web 2.0 technologies in school would be like trying to teach a child to swim without a swimming pool. However, it is exceptionally important for schools to carefully consider what technologies they will embrace.

She encourages readers to review materials posted by Rita Oates and goes on to explain reasons Facebook should not be used for classroom instructional interactions. Not surprisingly, I disagree.  To follow are Nancy’s reasons Facebook should not be used followed by my responses explaining why I disagree. 

7 Reasons Facebook SHOULD/SHOULD NOT be used for classroom instruction
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