So, I think I’m starting to find my groove with Snapchat. Definitely having a planned schedule for the week helps. I can also see how I can re-use items for future semesters (the jigsaw puzzle of content terms can stay the same). I’m wondering if having consistent days, like “Hello I’m a Consultant” Thursdays (where each Thursday I highlight different consultants) or “Fun Friday” where each Friday I have a game (jigsaw puzzle, word find) and Saturday I snap the solution will be useful, or put me in a rut. 

You can swipe up on your snaps to see who has looked at them. Unfortunately, I have only a handful on average. I’m going through a lot of work for only 3 to look at it! So, consistent marketing it to the students may be important. For my own sake, posting at a specific time (e.g., 3 p.m. since students have said they don’t check it until the afternoon because they are working or seeing clients) might be a better idea than whenever the mood hits me. Also, creating teasers that involve the students, like the one below, and sending that out through the course announcements function is something else I might try.

Committed to making this work. Upping my game!

Thought it was about time for an update on how my integration of Snapchat into my master’s/EdS Consultation course has been going. In two words, “Swimmingly well!” I’ve kept up with my daily goal of reading Snapchat posts from those I follow every day, and posting every day.

#1 Tip: Create a table that outlines the key concepts or points of each week’s lecture in one column. Then start brainstorming how you might teach those concepts, or introduce them, or reinforce them. Is there a symbol or metaphor? Is there any supplemental material in video format  or readings that you could snap about? Can you draw on any of your existing skills (e.g., create and post an infographic) or learn a new skill (like create an animation on powtoon)?

My class meets once a week, and I want to encourage them to post to our class story, which means I have to post something every day or the story disappears (if no one else posts). So, I plan out from Wednesday (when the class meets) until the next Wednesday. Here’s a brief screen grab of my table for the rest of this week.

Tip #2: As of this morning, I only had 6/21 students following the course Snapchat feed. I started today’s lecture with a “here’s a sneak peak of what you missed if you weren’t following on Snapchat.” Bam! Got 5 more signed up right away. Offering extra credit seems to also be encouraging them to post (I say they get .1 point per snap related to content, up to 2 points, which equals 2 quiz grades). Here’s a picture of the “what you missed slide.” Wouldn’t this want to make you sign up if you were a student?

Hope this is encouraging to those of you who are interested in integrating Snapchat into teaching. We’ll share more as we learn more – in the meantime, please share with us!