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With so many options, which tool was able to target the necessary criteria to be a collaborative, community-based, easy-to-use software that enhances peer-to-peer learning?
With so many options, which tool was able to target the necessary criteria to be a collaborative, community-based, easy-to-use software that enhances peer-to-peer learning?
After exploring a hoard of possible tools for teacher collaboration, we went with an option that considered all aspects of our criteria and took the components we liked from various tools.
WHAT WE LIKED:
Educational Website - Edutopia: has teacher-driven resources
Shared Workspaces - Google and Microsoft: has file sharing and communication
Collaborative Whiteboard - Mural: has visual collaboration tools and some integration with Google and Microsoft
Collaborative Platforms - Discord: has inter-device capability
Social Media Platforms - Facebook: has community and ease of use
CRITERIA:
Support personal choice in learning from others (Peer-to-Peer)
Allow a group of professionals to regularly interact about a shared interest/goal (Community of Practice)
Provide connection and collaboration (Connectivism)
Push learning forward through shared collaboration (Social Constructivism, ZPD)
Usefulness and Easy to use (TAM)
THE WINNER!
THE WINNER!
What is it?
A social media platform for sharing, finding, and organizing digital ideas and inspirations. Users find, organize, and share resources, activities, and tools as "pins" to place on their "boards".
Pros
Visual and easy to navigate
Massive library of resources (covers any topic you can think of)
Organization with "pins" and "boards"
Collaborative potential (sharing boards with colleagues)
Inspiration and creativity (find new ideas or create your own)
Access to free and paid resources (businesses often advertise through blogs and videos)
Commenting and messaging capabilities
Inter-device use (can use on phones and computers)
Link resources from Google and Microsoft
Cons
Quality can be inconsistent (old, outdated pins or unvetted materials)
Overwhelming (idea overload)
Commercial content (advertisements present)
Lack of depth of content (some "pins" lead to blogs or links that lack information or are sketchy)
Limited collaboration (no built-in collaboration aside from commenting on "pins")
Supporting Research
Supporting Research
A study completed by Schroeder, Curcio, and Lundgren (2019) shared how teachers used Pinterest and whether it was a tool that supported teachers. With reports stating that "Education-related" resources were the second highest resource searched, it required further exploration. They found that teachers used it to:
find resources, specifically on but not limited to, improving engagement in their classrooms, providing differentiation in their lessons, and providing relevancy in their teaching,
networking with other educators,
and storing their own ideas.
In conclusion, they found that though there are an abundance of resources, teachers were able to sift through and find the high-quality resources they needed. The ability to exchange ideas and resources for free makes Pinterest a useful tool for teachers. The use of social media should be included in the teacher education program, as well as education on social media mindfulness and pedagogy (Schroeder, Curcio, and Lundgren, 2019).
How-To-Guides
How-To-Guides
General Navigation
General Navigation
New to Pinterest? This beginner-friendly video walks you through the basics of navigating Pinterest on desktop, perfect for educators and anyone exploring the platform for inspiration or classroom ideas. Learn how to use the homepage, explore content, access messages, and customize your profile. Whether you're planning lessons, organizing ideas, or just getting started, this simple walkthrough will help you feel confident using Pinterest. Watch now to make the most of your Pinterest experience!
Creating Boards
Creating Boards
Learn how to create and organize Pinterest boards to collect and share inspiring ideas for your classroom or next teacher retreat! This quick guide walks you through setting up new boards, keeping them private, adding collaborators, and organizing content into helpful sections. Whether you're planning wellness activities or gathering assessment tools, this video makes it easy to stay organized and inspired. Perfect for educators looking to make the most of Pinterest in a fun and practical way!
Creating Pins and Adding Collaborators
Creating Pins and Adding Collaborators
Learn how to create and share your very own Pinterest pins in this easy, step-by-step tutorial designed for educators! Discover how to upload images, write descriptions, add helpful links, and organize your ideas into boards. You'll also learn how to collaborate with colleagues by inviting them to contribute their own pins. Whether you're sharing classroom resources, mindfulness activities, or creative project ideas, this video will help you make the most of Pinterest as a teaching tool. Perfect for teachers looking to connect, inspire, and stay organized—all in a fun and visual way!
Examples of Pinterest for Teacher Use
Examples of Pinterest for Teacher Use
Discover how to explore and interact with Pinterest as a powerful collaboration tool for educators! In this video, you'll learn how to engage with inspiring content, save helpful pins to your boards, and see a real-life example of how Pinterest can support teacher wellness, creativity, and teamwork. Whether you're curating classroom ideas or sharing resources with colleagues, this guide offers practical tips in a friendly, easy-to-follow format. Perfect for educators looking to make the most of Pinterest for professional collaboration and inspiration!
Let's see how a digital tool can be used for collaboration
Let's see how a digital tool can be used for collaboration
Heading to the file below, select a topic you are most interested in exploring. There are six breakout rooms, with a board topic assigned to each. Access the associated link, and upon login (or registering), you will search for pins to add to that board. Feel free to join other breakout rooms to explore other boards and chat with those in the rooms.
References
References
Schroeder, S., Curcio, R., & Lundgren, L. (2019). Expanding the Learning Network: How Teachers Use Pinterest. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 51(2), 166–186. https://doi-org.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/10.1080/15391523.2019.1573354
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