Snapchat’s new STEM Lessons: How social media is revolutionizing learning
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to have an engaging conversation on this topic with your students in class!
Snapchat, the beloved social media app known for its interactive filters and lenses, is revolutionizing the way students learn on social media. In a partnership with Inspirit, they are set to improve STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education with the power of augmented reality (AR). Snapchat is doing this by creating virtual games within their filters that help students grasp different STEM concepts. So, what does this mean for teachers, students, and the future of learning? Join us as we explore this innovative alliance between technology and education, and how students can use tech for good in their own lives!
Source: Snap / Inspirit
STEM meets Snapchat Filters
Snapchat is teaming up with Inspirit, an immersive learning platform, to offer 25 STEM AR learning modules to at least 50 schools across the country. This collaboration incorporates Snapchat’s AR capabilities into education, offering students an engaging and interactive way to explore complex STEM concepts. By leveraging Snapchat’s AR platform, known as Camera Kit, along with Inspirit’s interactive learning resources, students gain access to real-world visualizations of core STEM principles. The curriculum is designed to enhance classroom engagement, boost students’ confidence, and improve their self-efficacy.
To validate the effectiveness of this innovative approach, Inspirit, Snapchat, and Stride Inc., an educational management organization conducted a case study in 2023, finding key insights and solutions for boosting STEM learning in the classroom. This study involved eighth-grade students and teachers, aiming to reinforce fundamental STEM concepts, such as volume, mass, and density, through Snap AR simulations.
The results were astounding: Over 90% of students found the content easy to understand, with more than 84% expressing renewed interest in STEM subjects thanks to the use of AR. Teachers also reported increased attention spans and engagement among students who participated in the AR-enhanced lessons. These findings align with broader research on the positive impact of AR on student learning and motivation.
Snapchat’s Tech for Good is motivating students and educators
The integration of Snapchat’s AR technology into STEM education signifies a transformation in the way teachers approach teaching and students approach learning by making complex concepts more accessible and engaging for students. The AR modules provide a bridge between abstract theory and practical understanding, enabling students to visualize and interact with the subject matter. “Augmented reality enhances conversations with friends, fuels self-expression and creativity, and brings experiences and education into new dimensions,” says Snapchat. Teachers can use this tool to captivate their students and improve classroom engagement by involving their students in the conversations in fun and interactive ways.
With the rise of remote learning and digital classrooms, educators can stay ahead of the curve to keep students engaged and facilitate meaningful learning experiences. Snapchat’s AR curriculum introduces a fresh perspective on learning and encourages teachers to integrate cutting-edge technology into their lessons.
TSI’s Take
This exciting collaboration between Snapchat and Inspirit underscores the transformative potential of augmented reality in education and shows us the power of using tech for good.
The fusion of tech and learning can reshape the way students perceive and engage with complex subjects by going beyond the traditional classroom boundaries.
Check out some ways that you can encourage your own students to use tech for good:
- Show your appreciation
- A phone call or text message showing your appreciation can go a long way! Send a message to a friend, family member, or someone you know and let them know that you are thinking of them.
- Share good news
- Find an article, social media post, or news story online that inspires you and share it with your friends!
- Send someone a playlist or song that reminds you of them
- We all know a song that reminds us of a friend or family member. Find and share a playlist, music video on YouTube, or a poem that makes you think of someone.
Find out more on how you can empower your students to use tech for good by checking out how the Epstein School did in our case study.
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#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
How can the innovative partnership between Snapchat and Inspirit reshape traditional teaching methods and impact the future of learning? Where do you see the future of education in 10 years?
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.