Engage in History: Social Media Tearing Down Walls

Description

At a time when revolutionaries from Tunisia to Egypt, Libya to Iran, use social media to communicate their thirst for freedom with the world, it made sense for students and teachers at Beaver Country Day School to use the same media to learn from the world. Tools such as Skype, Facebook and Twitter can revolutionize learning experiences by giving students the ability to engage in real-time, two-way communication with people worldwide, providing unique opportunities for global collaboration. This presentation explores how educators can utilize social media in the classroom to enable students to analyze issues from a global perspective. Kader Adjout, Global History Teacher, will present 3 case studies in which students successfully collaborated with schools in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Germany, among others, via social media. Peter Hutton, Head of School, will discuss the school’s philosophy behind encouraging social media use in the classroom to enhance the learning experience.

Questions Answered

How can educators manage anxiety and misconceptions among teachers, parents, and students surrounding social media in the classroom? What are the potential benefits to using social media as an educational tool?
What are the best ways for educators to empower students to use social media to connect with the world?
How does social media give educators more opportunities than ever to encourage students to analyze current events from a global perspective? Why is this important?