Instagram Lessons

If you know me, you know I'm a HUGE supporter of social media in education.

Yes, there are things about it that are not awesome, but just with everything else in life, it's about how that "unawesomeness" (yup I made that a word) is handled.  I firmly believe in teaching how to use social media appropriately.  I firmly believe in modeling appropriate ways to use social media.  I firmly believe in logical consequences.  I firmly believe in parent participation.

All that in mind, I'm here to talk about Instagram.  I have a professional Instagram account and a window in my classroom that is decorated like Instagram.  The window shows pictures of students doing interesting projects in technology.  It also shows my professional Instagram handle.  The kids (all ages) enjoy coming in and seeing if they made the Instagram window.  This interest in their own pictures extended on my real Instagram because yes, there are pictures of them on my Instagram.

*disclaimers* I do not post pictures of students who's parents did not sign the media release.  I do not post pictures of students who are not comfortable.  If I catch a funny picture of a student, I ask their permission before posting.  I monitor who follows and likes my pictures CLOSELY.  If someone follows or likes my images and there is no indication they are a parent or an educator, they are blocked...for the safety of the children.

Knowing that my audience was growing and it was growing with students, I decided to take the opportunity to do more than just post their pictures.  I took a queue from Your School Rocks...So Tell People authors Ryan McLane and Eric Lowe.  I started posting pictures with inspirational messages and life skills.  I try not to write much in the description.  Knowing how I scroll through Instagram, double tapping cute pictures, not reading much, I keep that in mind with the kids.

Ultimately, one day, I'd like the kids to interact and write back.  But for now, when someone likes a post, I feel like the door of communication is opening.  I feel like maybe they know that despite keeping a structured classroom with high expectations (which they CLEARLY do not always love), I do care and I do value what they feel is important.

Another style of image that I tried using was a picture of an upcoming lesson.  I thought that this was an AMAZING idea!  Can I just say #fail.  Not realizing that 1) not all of my students follow me so they don't all see what I post, put a bit of a damper on the idea and 2) I teach every grade level different so the kiddos didn't really know who the picture was directed.  I tried that once and haven't done it again.  I would like to tweak it and revisit that idea, but for now, not so much.

The most fun posts, are the silly ones though.  I will at times, post random pictures to try to make the kids laugh or remind them of something good.  The last one was an alarm clock on a 3 day weekend and I reminded them that they didn't have to be at school!  What kid doesn't love that reminder?  

I also make sure to have specific #hashtags for different types of posts.  It's a way for me to stay organized and keep track of how many posts I make a week of a different style.  I don't want the kids to get overwhelmed or irritated with what I post.  My goal isn't to be what they ALWAYS see.  My goal is to be a positive example of social media and life skills when they do see my posts.

If you'd like to check out my professional Instagram, you can find me @EBGtech.  It's also just to the right of this post.

What do you think?  Would you use Instagram to teach, communicate, reach your students?

Life Moment Fail

So this morning I had a life moment fail.

I was walking out to my car and took 2 steps in the parking lot and, very much like a cartoon, my legs went forward, my bags went into the air, and my butt when down.  It hurt.  I fell.  On ice.  On asphalt. On. My. Butt.

It hurt and I was embarrassed.  I was a little shocked...couldn't get up immediately.  However, I could make sure that my coffee wasn't spilled everywhere immediately.  Priorities people priorities.

As soon as I realized nothing was really hurt I started to gather my things and started to rant in my head. "THAT'S IT! I'M WORKING FROM HOME TODAY! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IN THIS! WHAT WAS I THINKING! I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED IN BED!"

I started to pull out my phone to make sure I didn't have any meetings on campus and realized that the only thing that really hurt was my pride and the fact that I really don't like snow and ice. However, I made the decision to live where there is snow and ice so I have to deal with it. I decided to shuffle my way to my car...this time walking through the snow instead of sliding on ice again.

*disclaimer: if I fell again, I was staying home!*

I made it to work, granted my butt was wet from sitting on ice, but still I made it.

I had failed.  I had picked myself up.  I had tried again.  I had succeeded.

Why is it OK for me and for kids and for all other adults to have these little life fails in the outside world but not in education?  We learn so much from them.  I learned to walk in the snow for instance. I feel like in education, failing is the end.  Story over.  Why?  Why can't it be a chance to learn and try again?  Isn't the point of education to prepare for life?  We fail in life ALL. THE. TIME.  Why don't we teach that failing is just another chance?

Fail = DO OVER!  Don't we always want a "do over"?  WE HAVE IT!!!

*disclaimer: I'm glad I didn't fail forward this morning otherwise my face would have hurt much more than anything else.