Social Media: Today's Classroom

Trying to have a conversation with my younger brothers, ages 17 and 8, is simply impossible. Being the awesome sister that I am, I attempt to engage with my brothers after they come home from school. I usually ask them about their day, or ask them to share something they learned. Most of the time I get, "Good." or "I learned math." as an answer. The problem is that their noses are stuck behind a cellphone, television, computer, or tablet right when they arrive home. My brothers, do not stand alone, millions of adolescents across the country are consumed with being connected at all times. The question is, how does this translate into a classroom setting?
Prior to this class, I had thoughts of incorporating technology and social media into my classroom, but I wasn't sure how. First and foremost, I have learned that Google Docs is the way to go! I felt like a professional at Google Docs, but I realized I was nothing but a rookie, all the tips and tricks we learned today were great. I will definitely be implementing Google Docs in my chemistry classroom, it will be very helpful in the lab setting as it will allow students to share their data. With social media, I really liked the idea of an Instagram account for my classes. Having students express their learning in a way that they are comfortable with is awesome! Lastly, incorporating visual literacy strategies is something I also wish to do. I envision displaying pictures and having students tell me the story behind a unit.

 http://www.sociableblog.com/2013/03/06/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-education-in-schools/