Pinterest

 Pinterest is a social media collection tool that is being introduced into classrooms and libraries everywhere. Users  are able to create collections of essentially anything that they choose. Images, videos, quotes, etc. can be pinned on boards to be shared with others. Pinterest boards can be useful for organizing projects, ideas, and resources.

All that is needed to get started "pinning" is a Pinterest account which is free. Once you are signed up, the pinning can begin!

Below you will find three videos that take you from setting up an account through creating pins and boards. The site itself is user friendly. If you are not a fan of video tutorials, go to https://pinterest.com/join/signup/ and follow the on screen directions.

Tutorial 1 - How to set up an account

 Tutorial 2 - How to pin

Tutorial 3 - How to use boards

Social Media in the classroom???

Yes! 

The applications for the use of Pinterest in the classroom are literally as broad as the imagination and creativity of the teacher.

Teachers are currently pinning and sharing teaching ideas with one another. They are using their boards to organize ideas that they have for future lessons as well.

Students can us Pinterest to organize books that they have read or want to read. Since pinners have the ability to comment on pins, this would a great way to have students create book recommendations for each other - a new twist on the dreaded book report. 

Art projects could be "captured" through a photo, allowing the teacher to create a board of each classes work and share across classes.

Geography students could create pins and boards of countries that they are studying and use the comment sections to work collaboratively to add facts about each country - sort of a web 2.0 travel log.

Students could also use Pinterest as a brain-storming tool; the possibilities are endless!       

As with any social media tool being used in the classroom, a discussion about appropriateness of information and comments should be the first step with students regardless of the students' ages. The beauty of Pinterest is that students can determine who "follows" their pins. Much like using Wiki pages, Pinterest boards have to shared to allow access to the information.

Resources for using Pinterest

http://edudemic.com/2012/12/a-straightforward-guide-to-using-pinterest-in-education/

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/pinterest-for-educators

http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/25-of-the-best-pinterest-boards-in-education/

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/educators-guide-to-use-of-pinterest-in.html

http://edudemic.com/2012/10/pinterest-education-technology/

Resources for compiling this page:

Images: Google Images

Videos: YouTube

Text: pinterest.com