Executive+Function+Disorders+and+Pinterest

As an educator, I’m constantly seeking new ways to integrate technology and social media into my classroom. Most recently I discovered Pinterest and its far-reaching implications for teachers. There are innumerable resources on the website for teachers to incorporate into their lessons, and even more photographs to provide classroom decor inspiration, but I really want to focus on the websites implications for students and specifically those with executive function disorders. To phrase it simply, Pinterest is an interactive graphic organizer. Students can locate helpful resources: quotes, photographs, artifacts etc. that can aid them in their study. The website’s “boards” serve as organizational tools for students to store their files on. It’s a tremendously helpful way to get students chunking information. Groups can work on a shared board in order to consolidate all of their findings in one place. Aside from simply cultivating information, Pinterst boards can serve, by themselves, as visual presentations. Pinterest works so well for students with executive function disorders because it allows them a clean, straightforward means of sorting information. Also, unlike a printer homework assignment, once an item is pinned it’s really hard to lose. There are a lot of great ways to incorporate Pinterest in the classroom, and I’d urge any teacher that is working with students with executive function disorders to give it a try. You’ll be amazed how quickly students take to the site and create beautiful, elaborate boards.

Sources:

http://leader.pubs.asha.org/article.aspx?articleid=2290899 http://www.teachthought.com/social-media/37-ways-teachers-can-use-pinterest-in-the-classroom/