This presentation discusses using various communication tools like Facebook, Twitter, and WordPress to get students interacting using technology. Facebook allows creating private groups for classes and can be used for bibliographies, notes, assignments, and Q&A. Twitter is good for test questions, project ideas, assignments, and announcements but has a 140 character limit. WordPress allows weekly blogs, chapter summaries, and announcements but requires more creativity and effort than Facebook or Twitter. The goal is to use these tools to improve student connection, instructor presence, and retention.

1. Yackety Yak Please Talk Back
Haley Duck
Meridian Community College
Meridian, MS

2. Then and Now

3. Presentation Goal
• After today’s presentation, participants will know
how to use and implement communication tools in
their classroom to get the students interacting using
technology. This session will highlight Facebook,
Twitter, and WordPress, all of which will keep you
connected and get your students talking.

5. Which One Are You??
• Emma?
• Husband?

6. Don’t Judge The Book By Its Homepage
• 1.11 Billions users
• Free to use and view
• Requires account setup
• Create Group
– Make Private
– Invite students

7. Facebook cont.
• Uses:
– Bibliography
– Notes
– Chapter summary
– Research topics
– Homework assignments
– Q and A
– Announcements/Deadlines

8. Facebook cont.
Pros:
• Easy to use
• Familiarity
• Peer connection
• Videos and images
• Separation of personal and
school
Cons:
• Device required
• Displayed responses

9. Tweedly Deedly Dee, Tweet Tweet
• Over 230 Million users
• Free to view and use
• Requires account setup
• Connect by following
• Create page
– Create tweet then tag instructor

10. Twitter cont.
• Uses:
– Test bonus questions/answers
– Professional ReTweets
– Project ideas
– Homework assignments
– Q and A
– Announcements/deadlines

11. Twitter cont.
Pros:
• Following and being followed
• Videos and images
• ReTweets
• Announcements/reminders
• Professional users
• Instant Messaging
Cons:
• Character Limit (140)
• Device required
• Separation of personal and
school tweets

12. No Whammies With Your WordPress Luck
• Over 75 million blog site
• Free to use and view
– Option for upgrades
• Requires account setup
• Follow Blogs

13. WordPress cont.
• Uses:
– Weekly blogs
– Chapter summary
– Projects
– Notes
– Announcements/deadlines

14. WordPress cont.
Cons:Pros:
• Creativity
• Post length
• Videos, images, links
• Professional not personal
• Blogroll
• Limited themes
• Device required
• Less peer connection
• User friendliness

15. <iframe width="640" height="390"
src="//www.youtube.com/embed/t1szz0KRzh0"
frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

16. What’s the Point????
• Student connection
• Instructor presence
• Retention

17. QUESTIONS??
The End hduck@meridiancc.edu