I have to admit that new technology, (well – new for me) can sometimes be daunting. A while ago, while starting a new class and providing students with all the ways they can connect with me, a student asked if she could ‘snap’ me and I had to pause while I admitted I don’t use Snapchat. Then, I caught the news about two mountain climbers documenting their Everest expedition on Snapchat. I was hooked and anxiously looked for their stories and updates daily. Would they make it? Seeing their experience was incredible and I became a believer in using Snapchat to engage students in a very visual, real-time story.
I shouldn’t have been so hasty to judge the instructional value of Snapchat. It’s now the third most popular social media platform with 9,000 Snaps sent every second. While students are again leading the way with technology, let’s look at ways to focus Snapchat for Science. Even NASA is using Snapchat.
So how can it be used in science? First, find some people you want to follow (Check out these lists on Science and Artists and Snapping 4 Science.) and then ask students to follow stories and report out each week what they have learned.
Brining science into our student's hands every day in such a visual way has the potential to help build an enormous amount of background knowledge. I'd love to hear your thoughts about Snapchat.
Sincerely,
Kathy Tracey
@Kathy_Tracey