Keynote speakers

Summary form only given: “Students are using social media in their personal lives, so it makes sense to leverage them for teaching and learning,”.As an educator we look forward for ways to get our students excited about learning. One innovative method which is very relevant in 21 st century is through social media. While some teachers already use Tweets, status updates and text messages in their lessons, we may be unsure how to better employ these tools in an engaging way. As an educational tool, social media enriches the learning experience by allowing students and teachers to connect and interact in new, exciting ways. Web sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedln provide a platform where users can dialog, exchange ideas, and find answers to questions. These sites are designed to foster collaboration and discussion. Social media is an effective way to increase student engagement and build better communication skills. Students who rarely raise a hand in class may feel more comfortable expressing themselves on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. Social networking platforms enable teachers to establish "back channels" that foster discussion and surface ideas that students are too shy or intimidated to voice out loud. Improve Communication Among Students and Teachers Facebook and Twitter can enhance communication among students and teachers. Educators can answer students´ questions via a Facebook page or Twitter feed, post homework assignments and lesson plans, send messages and updates, schedule or announce upcoming events, and share interesting Web sites and multimedia content. Students can use Twitter to get help from instructors or other students. A great way for instructors to give participation points in addition to in class participation is by having students tweet about something that was discussed in class.