Using Social Media in the Classroom

David Albrecht, PhD, CPA Concordia College

Overview

Use social media in the classroom because:

1) mainstream use in companies and accounting firms2) mainstream use by accountants & business people3) opens communication channels to students

(they no longer desire e-mail or F2F office hours)4) blogging is ideal tool to develop critical thinking5) LinkedIn is favorite social media tool

Blogging

Most effective social media for critical thinking and writing in the classroom.

Three types of blogs & posts:1) Commentary2) Lifestyle3) News/research

Have students follow leading blogs, write reactions/analyses essays.

The SummaGrumpy Old AccountantsTax ProfTax Girl

Have students upload essays to course blog, require students to anonymously comment.

Professor blogs to class, students react.

Most popular social media tool for accountants (63%)

Use LinkedIn to teach skills:1) branding2) networking

Use LinkedIn Groups for:1) class discussions2) read & report on professional discussions

Most popular social media tool for students. 50+% firms have FB page.

Use FB to communicate with students1) group discussion on course page2) private messages

Use FB page to post reading links, documents, etc.

Is Google+ a substitute?

Knowledge transfer: watch videos in class.

Have students find interesting or related videos, report via “show and tell”

Based on work of Holtzblatt & Tschakert

Video creation• Substitute for term papers• Active learning as students immerse themselves in topic. Very effective learning tool.• A critical thinking exercise as students plan video story line.• Ties to real world as students interview professionals.

Twitter is the mobile app, for students on the go.

Twitter is short messaging, followers opt in.

Very popular means for professionals to chat.

Classroom use:• Students follow topics through #hashtags.• Students backchannel during class using #hashtags (prof do it at conferences).