Social+Networking+Apps


 * I am listing only the social networking apps I have used in class with my students. There are so many apps out there that can be used productively. Please share your resources on this page. Remember, we are focusing on apps. There is another page for social networking sites. Are you using Twitter or blogs in your class? Please share the apps and uses you and your students have tried. Wouldn't it be wonderful if classes could practice Spanish, collaborate on projects and connect with other Spanish language learners via Twitter or via blogging? Check out the video below to learn how one Texas professor views Twitter in the classroom: **

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This is a Twitter app. I originally loaded the app on all of our school iPod Touches and had students use it for lifelines on a test, or communication about links they found while doing projects or research. My students and I looked at several apps and decided on this one because every time someone tweeted, the app gave a notification sound like a bird. My students liked that for some reason. I used it the very first year we had the iPod Touches, but have not used it since then after learning so much more about Twitter and uses in the classroom. I believe there is an update now, which is not free.
 * **Twitterific **

Another Twitter app. In the past three years I have learned so much from other wonderful educators about how to effectively use Twitter with my students. While some teachers are using sites like Edmodo, FaceBook and many others, I conduct class discussions via Twitter. I have a class account that everyone follows and we use polls and hash tags, shared links and photos to conduct those discussions. I am testing out collaborative groups, study groups and virtual office hours this next semester. The class account information is given to parents so they know how we are using the account at all times. Hootsuite is great because it allows you to make lists, and add streams for various hash tags for class and general hash tags students want to follow. Aside from using Hootsuite for content relevant for class, I believe students are learning what it means to use social media responsibly.
 * Hootsuite (Free)

Twitter app. The information for this app is basically the same as for Hootsuite. I use Tweetdeck for my teacher account (@hugghinss). We looked at both Tweetdeck and Hootsuite and my students preferred the Hootsuite interface. However, I don't require anyone to use a certain Twitter app. Because we are moving to a BYOD learning environment, they may find comparable apps they want to use.
 * __Tweetdeck__ (Free)

Very user friendly and quite complete blogging app. This app allows students to create blog posts, pages and manage their accounts from any iDevice. Students can insert photos and links while writing the posts from the devices. In my opinion, it is a fabulous app. I used it last year with my students, and will begin using it this year as soon as we return from Christmas break with my current students. I polled my students last year after using the app a few times and they told me they would rather blog from the iPod Touches or their iPhones with BlogPress than go to our computer lab to use the desktops. They also preferred blogging with BlogPress rather than use one of the 7 netbooks we have available. I am including a video I found about a College French instructor who uses blogging in her language classes. Blogging is a great way for language learners to learn form one another and to connect and collaborate. What an advantage for any high school student who have blogging experience before entering college!
 * __BlogPress__ ($2.99)

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