A Waterfall Design Strategy for Using Social Media for Instruction

Abstract

Using social media can create a rich learning environment that crosses all content areas. The key to creating this environment is for instructors and designers to match appropriate social media software with the intended learning outcome. This article describes an instructional design strategy that helps educators create learning activities that make effective use of social media. To create effective instruction, the designer should have a clear understanding of the intended outcomes. Next, the designer should identify the epistemic discourse in order to match the most appropriate social media with the intended learning outcome.