Curriculum for a High School Social Media Class

Lately there has been a lot of talk about 21st century learning. Schools all over the country are having discussions about this buzz phrase. Schools are trying to figure out how to bring in technology to classrooms, but many are still blocking a crucial tool: social media. I believe 21st century learning is more than bringing in technology. It is about teaching students the skills they need to adapt to the ever-changing technology. We have to teach 21st century skills in order for 21st century learning to occur. Technology is changing the way we do everything including the way we communicate, and social media has played a large part in that shift.

Through the motivation to finish my masters program, the help and support of my social media and in-person network of educators, professionals, and students, I had the tools to develop a social media curriculum geared towards a high school classroom. This social media curriculum will allow students to explore how social media has changed communication, how it affects their future, and how they can use it as an advantage. Hopefully, this curriculum can also show schools social media is not something to be scared about but rather how it does have an appropriate and useful place in the classroom.

The curriculum is broken into six sections:

  • historical perspective
  • social media writing process
  • engagement
  • social media writing structure
  • media analysis
  • law/ethics

Even though technology is constantly advancing, I believe these sections can be adapted for any type of technology or new social media network that will be developed.

For more information or if you have questions, feel free to contact me via email.

Download: High School Social Media Class Curriculum

 

 

8 thoughts on “Curriculum for a High School Social Media Class

  • August 26, 2012 at 2:40 pm
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    This is AWESOME, Beth! Thanks for sharing such a valuable resource here! I’ve been doing bits and pieces of this with my own mass media course, and I’m definitely going to adapt some of your curriculum and incorporate these ideas. Thanks for including DOK and Common Core!

  • Pingback:10 Things Your Students Should Know About Their Digital Footprints

  • February 6, 2013 at 9:37 am
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    Hi Beth. I am a teacher at Medford High in Massachusetts working to establish a Social Media Literacy Program for the school. Your sample curriculum will help to inform our initiatives. Thank you very much. If you’d like to learn more about Medford’s program, please visit this blog: http://socialmedialiteracy.blogspot.com/

  • July 30, 2015 at 1:06 pm
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    Likewise, I’m an English teacher in Brainerd, MN working to establish a Digital Media Literacy course this year. Your sample curriculum is a HUGE help as I work to create our course. Thank you so very much. I’ve included a link to my class site, which will eventually have a tab for the course. Again, thanks for so generously sharing your work.

  • August 12, 2015 at 8:44 pm
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    Thank you so much for this resource. I am a new mass media teacher at a new school that has never had the program before. This is making my life!

  • January 15, 2016 at 10:32 am
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    This is a very good start to address a serious issue. I am a retired educator and sincerely believe that education
    (to be meaningful) must address the real world as it evolves. It is no longer the world in which I was a teacher and administrator. I haven’t researched enough to know if anything has been done at elementary and middle school levels. Parents allow their young children to have electronic devices on which they can connect to social media (often with no parental control.) Education needs to start in elementary school and progress through middle and high school with appropriate curriculum at all levels. Thank you for addressing this issue.

  • January 9, 2019 at 12:23 pm
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    Thank you so much for this wonderful resource.

  • October 28, 2020 at 7:39 pm
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    My family just had a discussion about The Social Dilemma. I suggested that we have media studies in high school and maybe earlier than that. I thought I would write a curriculum but I see you have one. I live in New York City. Are media studies taught here? Thank you, Debbie

  • September 24, 2023 at 9:26 pm
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    Hello, I want to learn how to communicate well

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