{"id":37,"date":"2012-02-02T00:27:23","date_gmt":"2012-02-02T00:27:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/redpincushion.wordpress.com\/?p=37"},"modified":"2015-01-07T22:36:34","modified_gmt":"2015-01-07T22:36:34","slug":"some-thoughts-on-teaching-with-pinterest-from-the-archives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redpincushion.us\/blog\/teaching-and-learning\/some-thoughts-on-teaching-with-pinterest-from-the-archives\/","title":{"rendered":"Some thoughts on teaching with Pinterest [from the archives]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This post was originally published in 2011.<\/p>\n

Recently, a friend introduced me to Pinterest, an online pinboard tool designed for creating a network of people sharing great ideas, resources, and information. It\u2019s rare that I find a new online tool through my personal network rather than my professional network, so I have been eager to examine Pinterest\u2019s educational and professional possibilities. In this post, I will talk about some of Pinterest\u2019s key features and outline ideas for using it in teaching and learning.<\/p>\n

First, a confession: I\u2019m pretty crazy about Pinterest. Though I was hesitant to adopt another online tool, I was immediately drawn into Pinterest\u2019s interface and network. Here is what makes Pinterest so great:<\/p>\n

1. Emphasis on visuals and visual appeal<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pinterest is driven by visuals. Users compile topical resources and pin them to their pinboards. Each pin features an image, which helps users to quickly find topics and resources that interest them. For instance,\u00a0here is a board that I created featuring all of the DIY projects<\/em><\/a>\u00a0I want to complete\u2026someday. The pinboard features image after image of items that I have placed in my DIY Woman category.<\/p>\n

I can think of several immediate applications of Pinterest to teaching and learning, primarily in disciplines that rely heavily on visuals and visual art. I can envision an art history professor or an architecture professor asking students to contribute to a shared pinboard.\u00a0View this Architecture pinboard<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to see what the board of an architecture student may look like. I can also see students in the hospitality industry making travel and hotel pinboards, biology students posting images of animals (classified by genus, phylum, class, etc), or education students posting links to lesson plan ideas. A high school friend of mine, a librarian in Tennessee, posts\u00a0great library-related lesson plans<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to her pinboards.<\/p>\n

2. Easy collecting and sharing of topics, ideas, and interests<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pinterest allows users to collect and share resources easily, via the Pinterest website or the Pinterest mobile app. When you see a pin that you like, you can repin it to one of your pinboards. Users can categorize their pins to specific pinboards (e.g., Places I Want to Travel) or collaboratively contribute pins to shared boards. For example,\u00a0here is a board that a friend and I share<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to collect resources for our canning projects.<\/p>\n

For classes, pinboards and shared pinboards may allow students to collect and share resources that contribute to their learning. For instance, in a business marketing course, students can post iconic business images to shared boards as part of a group project. Students in a technical writing class might create boards that feature exemplary practices in writing DIY instructions. Instructors may even consider collaborating on shared Pinterest boards with faculty colleagues at Texas Wesleyan or other institutions. I anticipate that I will be writing a \u201cUsing Pinterest for Professional Development\u201d post in the near future. In the meantime,\u00a0feel free to request access to this Teaching in Higher Education pinboard<\/em><\/a>\u00a0and start sharing resources today!<\/p>\n

3. Easy management and organization of resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the most part, I use Pinterest to collect and manage resources that I want to use at a later date. Though Pinterest is designed to help you create a sharing network, you can also use it as a type of bookmark collector. Consider doing this when you are designing your spring courses, particularly if you plan to use several online resources. You can compile those resources on a pinboard and use them as you need them. You can also share that course planning pinboard with students, even allow them to contribute to it, to create a course repository for that class and future classes. My one caution: Pinterest requires that you select an image to accompany the links you pin, so be sure to pin resources that have images.<\/p>\n

If you plan to use Pinterest in the near future, I would recommend that you download the browser tool called the \u201cPin It Button.\u201d This button on your browser toolbar will allow you to quickly pin web-based resources to your pinboards.\u00a0Get the button and learn more about using it here<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you use Pinterest for personal or professional uses? Please share your thoughts on using Pinterest for teaching and learning! Happy pinning!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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