Beyond #BookSnaps: Using Social Media and Creation Applications to Show Learning

I have loved the idea of #Booksnaps, a concept created by Tara Martin.

Here is why I love them!

Essentially, Booksnaps take a high-yield instructional strategy, close reading, to a fun and creative level. Booksnaps can be used for a variety of texts (narrative, informational, graphic) for any subject area in any grade.

Creating #BookSnaps is literacy-rich activity.  Digital Literacies involve knowing how a tool works and when it is appropriate to use the tool in the correct context. It is also an excellent assessment tool in that it allows students to demonstrate their thinking about what they are reading, learning and experiencing.  BookSnaps makes that thinking visible to the teacher and others and provides students practice with alternative uses of social media or creation applications (Instagram, SnapChat, Google Draw, and PicCollage).

I have been working with teachers and students at South Middle School to create "Snaps" of understanding in all content areas.  Check out some of the amazing creations that students have shared with me.  Also, check out our book recommendations at #GFPSYAReads.

These are so much fun to create and it makes student learning visible to those that they share them with.  So, glad we got "snappy" with our learning and Google Draw!  Let me know if you want to have your students "snap" too!