Engaging Math Students with Social Media-Style "Posts"

 

Want to inject some excitement and modern flair into your math classroom? Consider leveraging the familiar format of social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook to get students engaged and sharing their mathematical thinking. This approach can foster creativity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of concepts. Here's how you can bring the social media experience into your math lessons:

1. Setting the Stage: "Mathstagram," "Tweet Math," or "Face the Math"

First, decide on a catchy name for your classroom's social media-inspired activity. This helps create a distinct identity and adds to the fun. You can even let the students vote!

2. Choosing Your "Platform": Low-Tech or High-Tech

• Low-Tech Approach: This is perfect if technology access is limited. Use large sheets of paper or poster board to create "profile pages" or "feeds." Students can write or draw their "posts" on these sheets. You can even add sections for "likes" and "comments."
• High-Tech Approach: If your classroom is tech-savvy, consider using a platform like Google Classroom, Padlet, or a dedicated class forum. These platforms allow students to create and share posts digitally, often with the option to include images, videos, and even embedded calculations. Consider setting up a class hashtag (e.g., #MathMasters) to easily organize and find posts.

3. Designing the "Posts": Prompts and Activities

Here are some ideas for prompts and activities that mimic social media posts and encourage mathematical thinking:

• "Problem of the Day" Post: Present a challenging math problem and ask students to post their solutions, explaining their reasoning step-by-step. Encourage them to show different approaches to solving the same problem.
• "Math Meme" Challenge: Have students create math-related memes that explain a concept or illustrate a common mistake. This adds a fun, creative element and helps students connect with the material on a lighter level.
• "Concept Connection" Post: Ask students to find real-world examples of the math concepts they are learning and share them in a post. This helps them see the relevance of math in their everyday lives.
• "Math Selfie" (with a twist): Students can take a selfie with something that represents a math concept (e.g., a geometric shape in nature) and explain the connection in their post.
• "Explain it Like I'm Five" Post: Challenge students to explain a complex math concept in simple terms that a younger child could understand. This promotes clear communication and a deeper understanding of the material.
• "Collaborative Problem Solving" Thread: Pose a complex problem and have students work together in a "thread" of posts to find a solution. This encourages teamwork and peer learning.
• "Math Journal" Entry: Use the "post" format as a way for students to reflect on their learning, identify areas where they are struggling, or celebrate their successes.

4. Fostering Interaction: "Likes" and "Comments"

Just like on real social media, encourage students to interact with each other's posts. They can "like" posts they find helpful or insightful and leave "comments" asking questions, offering suggestions, or providing positive feedback. This creates a supportive learning environment and promotes a sense of community.

5. Teacher's Role: Guide and Moderate

As the teacher, your role is to guide the activity, provide feedback, and moderate the discussions. Make sure the "posts" are respectful and focused on the math concepts being learned. You can also use the posts to assess student understanding and identify areas where students might need additional support.

6. Assessment: Beyond the "Likes"

While "likes" can be a fun element, assessment should go beyond that. Focus on the quality of the mathematical reasoning, the clarity of the explanations, and the level of engagement in the discussions. You can use a rubric to assess student posts and provide personalized feedback.

7. Safety First:

If using online platforms, discuss digital citizenship and online safety with your students. Emphasize the importance of respectful communication and responsible online behavior. Ensure you are following your school's guidelines for student online activity.  I hope you read my previous entry since it discusses setting up a private area for students to safely do this.

By incorporating social media-style "posts" into your math classroom, you can create a more engaging, interactive, and relevant learning experience for your students. It's a great way to foster a love for math and help students develop their critical thinking and communication skills.