Social media in the classroom within the framework of the EHEA : creation of a digital portfolio on Pinterest as a tool for learning about contemporary architecture

Abstract

This paper presents the experience of introducing a tool with which students are particularly familiar and comfortable -social media- within the teaching activities and evaluation criteria of a first-year subject in higher education. Specifically, the study has been developed within the framework of the subject called Architectural History, Theory and Composition 1, that deals with an introduction to the contemporary architectural context. By means of the substitution of a traditional teaching tool –a personal course notebook– by a new digital portfolio inserted on the Pinterest site, the students have collected a wide range of external and personal resources (pins) and organised them into boards. This has contributed to the acquisition of relevant abilities within the EHEA framework like self-regulate learning, personal learning environments or the incorporation of new technologies, electronical devices and social media into higher education contexts. Results have been analysed from both quantitative and qualitative criteria.