Teaching with social media: Build a personal brand while building communities
This blog series highlights educators who have embraced social media in their ongoing quest to meet students where they are, increase engagement, and improve results. Through these stories, you’ll discover how they got started, learn a few tips to make your foray into social media as seamless as possible, and hear some advice about incorporating these new technologies and platforms into your instruction or institution.
I’ve always loved technology, and I’ve always wanted to integrate it into my classroom. But I remember getting pushback early in my career that social media was a fad, and distracting, and was going to go away.
Professional benefits of social media
I’ve been a huge advocate for not only incorporating social media platforms, but really using it to help build a strong personal brand. I’ve seen first-hand the professional opportunities that have come my way because of what I’ve done with my blog and my social media platform by making these connections. And I’ve been able to get amazing collaboration opportunities for my students, too.
"Educators are realizing the power of not only integrating these platforms into their classes, but also using them to set up some personal branding opportunities for themselves, getting their research out in the industry, and making these brand/industry collaborations happen."
We have to extend what it means to be a modern-day educator. How can we make our work relevant in the community? How can we make sure our insights, research, and work in the classroom are impacting the industry?
We have to take a more comprehensive view of our contribution, and the impact that we can have, at a larger scale. I think social media is the gateway to create those opportunities.
Social media in my classes
I use social media in some capacity in all of my classes. It allows students to get to know me as a human being and relate to me more, and I get to see them and their personal brands, too.
It’s also a platform that is comfortable for them and forces obvious discussion. I get to see the things that get them interested. Gen Z is really looking for that engagement, that constant feedback. For a place where, if they have a question, they can send you a DM or have a video chat about an assignment.
It lets you see where they’re at, and shows them that you’re willing to engage them on their level on the platform of their choosing. Ultimately, it’s all about the students — go where they feel most comfortable.
We are teaching the YouTube™ generation. When they have a question, they don’t necessarily go to the text; they go on YouTube. They’re very visual learners, but they want information that’s consumable in just a few minutes.
So what we have to realize is that the days of doing a 3-hour lecture and keeping the students’ attention is probably over for the most part.
Favorite strategy
If you need help, reach out to other professors. We’re not only there to help our students, we need to be helping each other, because this is a space that we’re all still learning.
What I’ve tried to do with the Facebook group that I manage is just say “Here’s what worked for me, here’s what assignments crashed and burned, here’s what I can do to help.” We share our stories, resources, assignments, and really support each other — it’s been one of the most dynamic and positive communities I’ve been a part of.
Dive deeper
Engage students by using the platforms they most prefer. According to a 2021 study by Pew Research, these are the percentages of 18–29-year-olds who regularly use the following online platforms:
YouTube (95%), Instagram (71%), Facebook (70%), Snapchat (65%), TikTok (48%).
About the author
Dr. Karen Freberg
Dr. Karen Freberg is an associate professor in strategic communications at the University of Louisville, and is an adjunct faculty member for the West Virginia University IMC Graduate Online program. She earned a PhD with an emphasis in Public Relations from the University of Tennessee.
Freberg has written three books including The Roadmap in Teaching Social Media, Digital Media Writing for Strategic Communication with Emily Kinsky and Amber Hutchins, and Social media for strategic communications: Creative strategies and research based applications. She has also coordinated and advised various companies on the areas of social media pedagogy and certification programs, including Hootsuite, Meltwater, Adobe, and Hubspot.
