Implementing Social Media into Courses.

This presentation will consist of three components. These components will be a mix of practical and research-based findings. The first will include examples of social media being used in courses, including what was gleaned from these experiences, both as a student and an instructor. These experiences have included promoting discussion with students, as well as for turning in and sharing assignments in courses. The second will discuss research into the differences between instructor and student perceptions of social media use in courses. The research was conducted with students and instructors in agriculture and natural resources. Discrepancies were found between students’ and instructors’ perceptions that can help shed a light on social media implementation in courses. The session will conclude with general tips on the implementation of social media in courses. Among these tips are being purposeful in use of social media, being selective when choosing among social media options, and fostering interaction with social media. The main idea of this presentation is to take calculated risks when using social media in courses. Social media are not inherently good or bad in their use. They are tools like anything else used in a classroom. Their use should be dictated by the potential to impact learning and the learning environment. There is not “right” answer for all instructors. There are multiple “right” answers and multiple “wrong” answers. The solutions will vary based on the instructor, the students, and how social media are being used.