Social Media for Teachers: Guides, Resources, and Ideas

Although students are evermore connected to the social web, many of these networks remain out-of-class digital playgrounds where students congregate. In a 2014 survey of 1,000 teachers, just one in five said they use social media regularly with students.

Of course, it can be a challenge to incorporate social media into lessons. There are many gray areas for teachers to navigate, like setting guidelines, accessibility at school, and student safety. But to help teachers navigate this ever-changing landscape of social media tools, here are some of the best guides on the web for four popular networks, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The Teacher’s Guide to Twitter via Edudemic: This is a great guide from Edudemic for all teachers -- both the experienced tweeters and those new to the platform. You’ll find everything you need to know about using Twitter in the classroom, including a list of useful education hashtags, search strategies, and ideas for the classroom. Also check out these resources:

• "Dipping Into Social Media in the Classroom," via EdSurge
• "Guide to Using Twitter in Your Teaching Practice," via KQED
• "Twitter For Teachers," via Scholastic Instructor
• "One-Stop-All-You-Need-to-Know Guide to Twitter," via David Truss' blog

Facebook for Educators and Community Leaders Guide: Published in September 2013 by Facebook, this guide is the perfect resource for teachers interested in using the world's largest social network with students. Three main subject areas are covered, including digital citizenship, mobile safety, and guidelines for social media at school. Also check out these resources:

• "A How-To Guide for Teachers Using Facebook in the Classroom," via Education Week
• "Does Facebook Really Have a Place in the Classroom?" via The Telegraph
• "7 Ways Teachers Use Social Media in the Classroom," via Mashable
• "The Facebook Guide for Teachers," via eLearning Industry

Using Instagram in an Educational Context: The EmergingEdTech blog is a wonderful source for tips, strategies, and ideas for using social media and other new technologies in the classroom. This guide is a great primer for understanding what Instagram is and how it can be used to teach and reach students. "5 Ways Teachers Can Use Instagram in the Classroom" is another great blog post from the site. Also check out these resources:

• "10 Ways to Use Instagram in the Classroom," via We Are Teachers
• "The Educator’s Guide to Instagram and Other Photo Sharing Apps ," via The Edublogger
• Free Parents’ Guides for Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook from ConnectSafely, via ConnectSafely.org
• "Using Instagram in the Classroom: Five Activities," via Education World

The Educator's Guide to the Use of Pinterest in the Classroom: EducatorsTechnology.com published this useful guide for teachers interesting in using Pinterest with students. Here, you'll find everything you need to get started, including tips for building boards, pinning basics, and ideas for using Pinterest in the classroom. Also check out these resources:

• "The Teacher’s Guide To Pinterest," via Edudemic
• "Infographic: The Role of Pinterest Inside & Outside The Classroom," via Getting Smart
• "37 Ways Teachers Can Use Pinterest in the Classroom," via TeachThought

More Great Reads From Edutopia

In addition to those great guides, there is a lot of useful information right here on Edutopia. You can explore all things related to the subject on Edutopia's social media page; here are a few of the more popular, recent posts:

• "A Guidebook for Social Media in the Classroom," by Vicki Davis (2014)
• "8 Tips to Create a Twitter-Driven School Culture," by Elana Leoni (2014)
• "Using Social Media to Teach Visual Literacy in the 21st Century Classroom," by Dave Guymon (2014)
• "Engaging Your School Community Through Social Media," by Howard Stribbell (2014)
• "10 Social Media Tips for Reaching World Language Learners," by Sarah Wike Loyola (2014)
• "Creating a Dynamic Facebook Page for Your School," by Anne O'Brien (2014)
• "Five-Minute Film Festival: Pinterest for Teaching and Learning," by Amy Erin Borovoy (2012)