Social Media

Things to consider to support you in creating a map activity

These are some additional tools that will add different dimensions to your your map activity.:

QR Codes
Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook, Google + and Instagram
Platforms for sharing information
My Maps

QR Codes

What is a QR Code?

"QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two-dimensional barcode) first designed for the automotive industry in Japan. A barcode is a machine-readable optical label that contains information about the item to which it is attached. A QR code uses four standardised encoding modes (numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and kanji) to efficiently store data; extensions may also be used."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code

How do they work?

To create QR Codes you will need to use a QR code generator. There are heaps of them. The one we used to create the QR codes in this activity is QR Code Monkey - it is free and it also allows you to customise the codes. You can find a list of others on Kathy Schrock's Guide to everything! (This is a great site for all sorts of techy stuff but there are some broken links as you might expect with something that has been compiled over such a long time).

Why are they useful for learning?

QR Codes help engage students and add differentiation to tasks and activities. There are heaps of blogs which describe how teachers have used them. 25 fun ways to use QR codes for teaching and learning has curated some of them.

You can create them and link to resources such as websites, help sheets, short informative videos to support learning and provide personal pathways. Students can also own their learning by creating QR codes to link to work that they have done and to support each other.

We have used QR Codes for this workshop activity to link to the platform where you will upload your challenges. (Padlet) You will find QR Codes attached the physical points around the course (as long as nobody has removed them in the time between putting them there and you doing the activity!). Use your QR Code Reader on your mobile device to scan them. They should take you to a Padlet where you can upload the answers to the challenges. We have also added the QR Codes below and links to the Padlets. (Just trying to think of all eventualities!)

To read QR Codes you need a QR Code reader. There are heaps of these for both Android and iOS. Here are some that we recommend:

iOS - Click here for more information

iOS Click here for more information

Android Click here for more information

Social Media

Why be connected?

It’s all about choice really you can stay in the confines off your own physical network you have formed OR use social media to broaden it. --- When the connected educator effectively uses social media and builds a strong personal learning network, the world is literally at their fingertips.

In this large social media landscape, there is one given - “ it keeps changing” - and there is a wide variety of tools that you can utilise and the list is changing all the time.

There are Facebook pages for teachers for all subject areas where people share stories, practice, ask questions, give advice, share resources. They are go to places for people sitting at home alone to connect.

And there are Twitter chats on all sorts of topics, at all times of the day and night. You can connect with educators whenever you want all around the globe.

Why Twitter?

Lots of educators who get hooked on Twitter say that it gives you access to the biggest staffroom in the world. You can connect with other educators around the world, you can join discussions related to your passions and interests - personal and professional. Twitter offers a steady stream of resources available whenever, wherever and however, so learning happens anytime you want it. Twitter helps you to make connections globally and locally and to easily reach beyond the physical walls of your organisation/ school to find like-minded people. You can learn and share new ideas, knowledge, resources, and information, and make new friends.

How will it help my kids learn?

Have a look at #Kidsedchat for ideas of how to get involved with primary aged students. #NZReadaloud also uses Twitter and other social media sites to collaborate and share learning. Older students can follow hashtags on topics or subjects - there are heaps of people tweeting about history, science, literature, art. They can also use Twitter as a back channel for discussions about topics they are studying and share ideas with other students across the world.

What is Twitter?

• A digital, online microblogging service

• Everyone has a twitter handle which starts with the symbol @ eg @robeanne

• Each tweet is a microblog of 140 characters - although Twitter has recently announced a 280 character limit which is being rolled out gradually. What do you think the benefits / drawbacks are to a shorter or longer character limit?

• Tweets can contain images, GIFs, videos, polls, links (as urls and hashtags - ie start with the symbol #)

• You control who to follow and who can follow you

• Connect and communicate with your followers and those you follow via “@reply” tweets

• You can also direct message (DM) people

Signing up with Twitter

To create an account on the web:

Go to http://twitter.com and find the sign up box, or go directly to https://twitter.com/signup.
Enter your full name, phone number, and a password.
Click Sign up for Twitter.
In order to verify your phone number, we will send you an SMS text message with a code. Enter the verification code in the box provided. Learn more about having a phone number associated with your account here.
Once you've clicked Sign up for Twitter, you can select a username (usernames are unique identifiers on Twitter) — type your own or choose one we've suggested. We'll tell you if the username you want is available.
Double-check your name, phone number, password, and username.
Click Create my account.You may be asked to complete a Captcha to let us know that you're human.

Note: if you'd like to sign up with Twitter using an email address, you can do so via the "Use email instead" link at the bottom of the sign up page.

For more information GO HERE.

Make an Instagram account

Instagram is the fastest growing Social Media platform because of its simplicity and its visual appeal. It is aimed at the mobile market so is easy to use on the go and its 'in the moment' experience attracts young and old alike. There are only a handful of posting options, but enough to help you turn ordinary photos into visually appealing artworks!

How will it help learning?

Kids can share their learning in a visual way either by uploading a screenshot of their work with a comment about it, or taking a short video of it, or sharing photos of their learning. Encourage kids to comment on each other's photos and give constructive feedback. Use hashtags to collate / curate topics so you can easily find them.

Follow hashtags on topics you might be studying, use it as a visual diary to document learning either by uploading drawings, videos or photos with comments, create your art portfolio and publish the link on a website, use a class account for all students to share resources for topics you are studying.

How do I create an Instagram account?

Instagram is a mobile app that you can download on iOS and Android phones and tablets as well as Windows Phone 8 and later. Keep in mind that you can only share photos and videos from the mobile app.

To create an Instagram account from the app:

Download the Instagram app for iOS from the App Store, Android from Google Play Store or Windows Phone from the Windows Phone Store.
Once the app is installed, tap to open it.
Tap Sign Up With Email or Phone Number, then enter your email address or phone number (which will require a confirmation code) and tap Next. You can also tap Log in with Facebook to sign up with your Facebook account.
If you register with your email or phone number, create a username and password, fill out your profile info and then tap Done. If you register with Facebook, you'll be prompted to log into your Facebook account if you're currently logged out.

To create an Instagram account from a computer:

Go to instagram.com.
Enter your email address, create a username and password or click Log in with Facebook to sign up with your Facebook account.
If you register with an email, click Sign up. If you register with Facebook, you'll be prompted to log into your Facebook account if you're currently logged out.

If you sign up with email, make sure you enter your email address correctly and choose an email address that only you can access. If you log out and forget your password, you'll need to be able to access your email to get back into your Instagram account.

Learn more about keeping your account secure.

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