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A Primer on Using 'Pinterest'
Many principals and teachers are joining the ranks of social media users, by communicating via FaceBook and Twitter. Following is a "primer" to help you get acquainted with one of the newest social media, Pinterest.
What is it?
Pinterest is a virtual pinboard that allows users to organize and share things they find on the web. Think of it as a bulletin board. You can browse boards created by other people to discover new things, and they can browse your boards.
How do I sign up?
Pinterest is invite only. You can request an invitation from Pinterest or be invited by a user. Requesting an invite is easy from the Pinterest home page, and most invitations are approved in about a wekk. When you receive an invitation, you can register using FaceBook Connect or Twitter.
What is a "pin?"
A pin is an image added to Pinterest by a user. It can be added from another website or by using the "Pin It" bookmarker, which can be dragged into your browser task bar. Every pin you post on Pinterest links back to the original site from which it came, which is why Pinterest can be useful and viral.
What is a "board?"
A board is a set of pins that you post in a particular category, and can be created on any topic, such as Academics, Athletics, or Summer Reading. You can add as many pins to a board as you want, and you can "assign" or provide pinboards to administrators and teachers. To create a new board, click "Add" in the top toolbar, and then "Create a Board." Enter a board title, choose a category, and then click "Create."
What is "repinning?"
Repinning is adding an image you find while browsing through Pinterest. When you repin someone else's image, it will appear on your own board. The user who first pinned the image will also get credit. No matter how often an image is pinned, it still links to the original source.
How do you repin?
There are two ways to repin an image:
1) When viewing a pin in thumbnail-view, mouse over the pin and click "Repin."
2) When viewing a pin in full-size view, click "Repin" and choose one of your boards to pin it to, based on categories you've set up. You can also edit the description of your pin and share it on FaceBook and/or Twitter.
How does it integrate with other media?
Pinterest allows you to "like" an image on FaceBook, tweet about it on Twitter, embed it on your own website or email it. This integration of social media sites is one of the best things about Pinterest. Think viral.
How would educators use Pinterest to enhance their work?
Here are a few ideas:
Get inspiration for classroom setup an decoration.
Organize ideas around a project or theme.
Get fun ideas for new projects.
Swap lesson plans.
Locate amazing images for lessons.
Have students pin project ideas.
Collect ideas for virtual field trips.
Make group work visual.
Have students photo journal on Pinterest.
Find loads of printables.
Pump up science lessons with amazing experiments.
Look for grade-specific materials.
Collaborate with other teachers and educators.
Share what you're doing in the classroom.
Get links to great tech resources.
Look for new, innovative teaching methods.
Find strategies and ideas other teachers are using in relation to the Common Core.
Find amazing teacher blogs to read.
Find tutorials.
Get inspired.
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