2. Empowering Students as Users of Social
Media
Shana Ferguson
Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching
Bett 2019
3. Shana Ferguson @medialitnerd
Teacher Librarian, Columbia River HS,
Vancouver, Washington, USA
Fulbright Award: Jan 1 - April 1, 2019
Centre for Research in Digital
Education, University of Edinburgh
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Judy Robertson
Teacher Mentors: Kate Fuller &
Tommy Lawson http://www.fulbright.org.uk/
4. How manyof you?
Looked at a notification on your phone
when you woke up this morning?
Followed a news item on your phone this
morning?
Posted to social media from Bett / London
today?
Checked social media posts during Bett?
Sent a text, tweet or e-mail from your
phone during this conference?
Marie-Baeten. “Selfie.” Flickr, 15 Nov 2017,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155423788
@N03/38410472172/.
5. Whydoes the librarian care about social media?
● Students have more access
to information and the
world than ever before.
● Students are not just
consumers; they actively
produce media.
● Students need guidance as
they discover, digest and
create digital media.
Intel Free Press. “Book Hidden in Textbook.”” Flickr.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/intelfreepress/with/15471594162/
6. Teens,Social Media and Technology2018 U.S. Survey
● 95% of teens own or have
access to a smart phone
● 85% on Youtube
● 72% on Instagram
● 69% on Snapchat
● 32% on Twitter
● 45% of teens online almost
constantly
Anderson, Monica and JingJIng Jiang. “Teens, Social Media and
Technology, 2018.” PEW Research Center, 2018.
7. UK teens & social media stats
● 2017: 83% of 12-15 yr. olds have
own smart phone (OfCom)
● 2017: 74% of 12-15 yr. olds have
social media account (OfCom)
● 2018: 98% of 16-24 yr. olds used
smart phone to access the internet
in 2018 (Office for National
Statistics, UK)
8. What’sdifferent? Shifts in the medialandscape
● Algorithms,
Echochambers & the
Filter Bubble
● Bloggers, citizen
journalists, &
influencers
● Economy of clicks &
being “liked”
● Doctored content
● Bots
Blogtrepreneur. “Social Media Mix 3D Icons - Mix #1”
Flickr. 11 July 2016.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/143601516@N03/280110
15990
9. Created in Canva by Katie Nedved
Related Article: Martin & Roberts. “Digital Native Digital Literacy.” Principal, Jan/Feb 2015.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/aaslissues/MartinRoberts_JF15.pdf
Social media & the news
“Children are frequently
getting news and news
headlines from their social-
networking sites. Among
children who use social
media, 76 percent get news
or news headlines from a
social networking site.”
News & America’s Kids, Common Sense
Media 2017
10. Sharing: not what welearned in kindergarten
“59% of links shared on
social media have never
actually been clicked.”
Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post, June
16, 2016.
C!... “Share,” Flickr. 10 Nov 2010..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlos_maya/5165377895
11. What’s so alarming?
“falsehoods were still 70 percent
more likely to get retweeted than
accurate news”
Meyer, Robinson. “The Grim Conclusions of the
Largest-Ever Study of Fake News,” The Atlantic, 8
March 2018.
Image: Giles, Mark. “Fire Alarm.” Flickr, 9 Jan
2006,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/admitone/845097
33. 25 Sept 2018.
12. Developing critical frameworks
Critical reading & thinking skills
are essential.
Skills need to be enduring &
applicable for shifting information
platforms & content.
Skills should address the
global nature of social media.
Gulshan. Bērni ir “dzimuši ticīgie”, 8 May 2012.
http://spoki.tvnet.lv/vesture/Berni-ir-dzimusi-
ticigie/567236
13. Developing social media leaders
● How/why is personal data
gathered and/or used on
social media sites?
● What control can teens exert
over the algorithms that
curate the content they see?
● How can teens leverage
media production as future
global leaders?
" Achievement Graduation Education Cap Graduation Cap.” Max Pixel.
https://www.maxpixel.net/Achievement-Graduation-Education-Cap-Graduation-
Cap-3430714
14. Collaborative curriculum
Partner with University of Edinburgh
Centre for Research in Digital
Education
Collaborative planning, instruction
and curricular design with teachers
and students in the US & UK.
Refine, share & post social media
curricular materials for secondary
school use.
www.medialitnerd.com
