I Remember That From My Pins!: Using Pinterest to Encourage Active Learning

Abstract

Social media is integral to students' lives. Pinterest, an online social network for ''Pinning'' (sharing) links and images, is the fastest-growing social media tool in history. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of a semester-long active-learning assignment using the Pinterest platform. Forty-nine students (42 female; 18 psychology majors) enrolled in a Lifespan Development course contributed data to this investigation. Students used Pinterest to apply their knowledge of developmental theory and research to two celebrities or fictional characters of their choice. At the end of the semester, students completed a short questionnaire in which they reported on their experiences with the project. Participants also consented to have their academic achievement data (course grades) analyzed in aggregate. Results indicate that students enjoy the Pinterest platform and that they perceive learning more from the assignment than from other assignments in this and other courses. However, some students reported struggling with practical concerns of the platform, including difficulty in adjusting to an unfamiliar platform. Results suggest that Pinterest can be used to encourage student learning but that instructors must take care to ensure that assignments in this medium are inclusive of a broad range of students.

Introducing mobile learning in sport management education: Exploring gender differences in Pinterest usage

“…These results are consistent with the positive results reported by studies that used Pinterest in other educational fields. 25,[27][28][29]31 Therefore, we consider Pinterest to be an interesting tool to be included in the university classroom, positively affecting the teachinglearning process, in areas such as facilitating flexibility in learning, productivity, enabling the connection between students and between students and faculty, or developing soft skills such as the ability to filter information and stimulate critical thinking. Furthermore, delving into the context of sport management, students have perceived the use of Pinterest as a possibility to acquire relevant experience in their professional field, following or connecting with important people, as well as expanding their professional networks.…”

“…One way to introduce active learning methodologies in the classroom is through social media. 52,53 These digital platforms are an integral part of students' lives, 25 as they are easily accessible from their mobile devices. In fact, according to Lo´pez-Carril et al, 54 among all digital devices, smartphones are the most used devices for accessing social media by young people (97.76%), followed by tablets (0.75%) and laptops (1.49%).…”

Find, Pin, Discuss: Incorporating Pinterest to Foster Community and Collaboration in Online Advertising Classes

“…Students also answered a series of four questions (α = .85) adapted from Joyce (2017), which asked about their learning and enjoyment of the assignment using Pinterest, as compared to other assignments in this and their other classes. These questions used wording such as "In comparison to other assignments that you have done in this course, how much did you enjoy your Pinterest assignments?"…”

“…Students also answered a series of four questions (α = .85) adapted from Joyce (2017), which asked about their learning and enjoyment of the assignment using Pinterest, as compared to other assignments in this and their other classes. These questions used wording such as “In comparison to other assignments that you have done in this course, how much did you enjoy your Pinterest assignments?” and “In comparison to other assignments that you have done in other classes, how much did you enjoy your Pinterest assignments?” The survey also included items asking students about their familiarity and comfort level with Pinterest.…”

“…Because of its visual and collaborative organizing platform, scholars have also discussed Pinterest as a useful pedagogical tool in a variety of course topic areas such as special education, math, Spanish, nursing, anthropology, and management (Cleaver & Wood, 2018; Hooks, 2015; Mitchell, 2018; Mizelle & Beck, 2018; Pearce & Learmonth, 2013; Schmidt, 2016). Much of this literature focuses on face-to-face courses and provides discussion of specific assignments or outcomes specific to a particular field of study, though at least one study has tied use of Pinterest to more general active learning outcomes (Joyce, 2017). Pinterest’s increased efforts to support digital advertising and marketing lend it a natural appeal to students enrolled in an online digital advertising class.…”