Pinterest as Educational Media (Guest Post)

By | October 01, 2012 | Comment |
Posted in: Social Media in Education Blog


Pinterest is not just social media. For me and for my students at New Hampton School in New Hampton, NH, Pinterest is educational media. I ask all of my students to have an account and use it for each project. Here is why.

In reviewing the elements and principles of design, I asked my students to create a board for each element and each principle. I asked them to find examples and inspiration in the media that they plan to work in. By doing this, they not only created a personal, visual resource for themselves of fundamental and abstract concepts, they also found really cool inspiration for their future personal projects.

My students do several types of research. They look for inspiration in a certain media, they look for artists in a certain genre, and they investigate conceptual themes that cross cultures. When they find important information or inspiration, they “pin it” to one of their boards. Pinterest hosts visual web bookmarks. Each board is a folder of research, with visual reminders. Click on a pinned visual, and the back link appears, connecting the student with the original web source. What a great way to organize research!

As a teacher presenting material to my students, Pinterest has simplified my life. I have a board of visual examples for each project in my Photography and International Baccalaureate Visual Arts Higher Level 2 classes.

Another benefit is the smile on my face when I login to Pinterest and see the images on my home page. (These are the images that the people that I “follow” have most recently pinned.) I see really inspiring art work, and then realize that it is my student that has pinned it. This is a very cool moment. I have learned something new about my student, and I appreciate it. There is a connection. Then I realize… OK, this IS social media!

How are you using Pinterest in your classroom? Let me know in the comments!

Amy Wilson is Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, Director of the Galletly Gallery, and teacher of Photography and IB Visual Art at New Hampton School in New Hampton, NH. Amy is always looking for innovative ways to inspire and teach her students. Pin her photography work here!

Related posts:

  1. Pinterest: What’s in it for you?
  2. Webinar recap: What’s the Interest in Pinterest
  3. Pin and Be Pinned: Strategies for Pinterest Success
  4. Pinterest: Why Pinning is Better than Posting Pics
  5. Webinar: What’s the interest in Pinterest?

About the Author

Hans Mundahl has taught since 1995 when he first stepped to the front of a classroom as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in the former East Germany. Since then he has been working to create stimulating educational experiences for students that combine cutting edge tools with durable skills. Hans is currently the Director of Experiential Learning and Technology Coordinator at the New Hampton School. He writes regularly for EdSocialMedia and has had his work (and the work of his students) featured on YouTube, Livestream and SlideShare.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sarit-Amar/725926662 Sarit Amar

    I couldn’t figure out how old your students are. I have a problem with recommending Pinterest as a tool for K-12 schools because Pinterest doesn’t allow you to filter problematic content.

  • hmundahl

    High school, I totally hear what you are saying about filtering!

  • Amy Wilson

    I am concerned about filtering as well. However, I teach at an iPad school in which the only control we have over our students’ web browsing is blocking inappropriate content on school grounds. I don’t believe that using Pinterest changes the content they see, and they can gleam the benefits of the visual bookmarks.

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