Trying Instagram

Post date: Feb 27, 2014 4:7:30 AM

What did I do?

When I first agreed to try something new within the realm of social media, I chose Instagram simply because all of my middle school students have accounts.  I thought there must be some way to promote math through this technology!  Over the past week, I have used my classroom account to promote student work.  It is important that students understand what “proficient” looks like when it comes to constructed response questions.  With TCAP around the corner, what better time to experiment?  Here are some examples of work I’ve shared with students this week: 

Did this benefit my students? 

I know this was a useful tool for some students.  Rather than having to refer to an answer key to check their work, they could check proficient examples on Instagram!  With multiple problems being attempted by students at any given time during review week, it was difficult to coordinate discussions about what was proficient/not proficient.  Instagram was a perfect way for students to see what was proficient without having to check with me.  Also, because the activities were for practice (not an actual grade), students were unlikely to check the answers prior to attempting the problems. 

I was careful to post only proficient or advanced work, thereby eliminating any embarrassment and maximizing pride.  I didn’t include any faces – just the work.  I’m hoping that students who checked out the proficient examples learned from their mistakes on the same problems.  I was amazed how many students were having mathematical discussions while comparing their work to the examples I posted.  One student even informed me that she and her friend “couldn’t figure out how an answer was calculated from the Instagram post” and asked me to show them how to do it. 

Unexpected Findings

After accepting students into my private Instagram account, they were immediately offended when I didn't "follow" them in return.  So, I followed them.  While their posts don't automatically show up, I did get curious about what they spend their free time taking pictures of and posting for their friends.  I went looking… While I didn't see anything completely inappropriate (other than a student who took a short video of her nephew calling someone the "N-word"), I did see some things they probably wouldn't want their teacher to see (i.e. selfies of some student couples snuggling in class or holding hands under their desks, students hanging on the playground and flipping off the camera, etc).  While on one hand it is nice to know the "whole child" as a teacher, there are some some things I don't want to know or see first hand!

What does the future hold? 

This experience has inspired me.  Within two days of my first post, I had over 40 followers (slightly more than 40% of my students).  I was equally surprised when multiple students "liked" my posts!  Who would have thought math could be openly liked by middle school students?!?  

Even though some students do not have smart phones or tablets, they all have access through a friend or at home.  I plan to expand my posts to include my weekly Khan-test winners (students who spend the most time on Khan Academy per week).  I would like to also use Instagram to record steps in math problems – particulary with long division, function graphing or solving 2-step equations.  The multi-step tutorials may be beneficial to some students who have difficulties remembering how to solve these types of problems.