Major Project: Exploring TikTok

I downloaded TikTok almost a month ago, and for the first two weeks, I think I logged in twice? Once I played with my user pic, and somehow ended up with an AI generated picture of me that didn’t actually look anything like me? And the second time I scrolled through a few videos, none of which were actually of interest to me, and I put it away for other apps (and algorithms) that knew me better.

However, I received a work email about a financial literacy speaker who is using TikTok in the classroom to keep things trendy and relevant. Now, “trendy” doesn’t necessarily sell me on things, but relevant? And anything to help liven up financial literacy? Yes, please! So I did a search, and started by viewing George Kamel’s TikTok videos, and then branched out a little bit (into crochet patterns, where I found a hot tip about keeping my edges smooth, and funny cat videos, which my kids love to watch). Needless to say, I am starting to see the appeal. I’m not convinced; I’m still getting a lot on there that isn’t of interest to me, and I’ve got enough options for doom-scrolling if that’s what I’m looking for, but we’re here to talk about whether or not TikTok can be incorporated in a meaningful way into the classroom.  So here we go.

Basic Overview:

TikTok is a popular social media app/platform that allows users to create, share, and browse through short videos. Although the videos can be up to 10 minutes in length, depending where they are created, they are typically quite a bit shorter. The app itself only allows for videos up to 60 seconds in length, and features a variety of editing tools, effects, and filters to make videos fun and creative.

The real appeal of TikTok is that it’s a place where users can express themselves through video, share funny or informative content, and connect with others. It’s known for its viral challenges, trends, and memes, which often spread quickly across the platform, and spill over into other platforms.

Potential Impact on, and Implications for, Users:

Honestly? This is one where I would tread very lightly when it comes to using it in classrooms. I can definitely see some benefits, and with a careful search, there are some awesome videos and resources that you can bring in! But it’s not one that I see myself, at this point, allowing students to use themselves.

Pros

1.  Engagement: Let’s be real – by the time kids get to high school (which is where I see them), social media, for most, is a huge part of their daily lives. Including platforms that students are already familiar with can increase engagement and make learning feel more relevant to their interests.
2. Short, engaging content: TikTok has got the short, attention-grabbing, visual content bites down. For demonstrations, bringing in a professional’s voice, for tutorials, or examples, these short videos could make learning fun, quick, and easily digestible. And honestly? Sometimes having someone else say the same thing but in a slightly different way is a huge help.
3. Educational Trends: There are hashtags, like #LearnOnTikTok, that can give students access to some really interesting and alternative explanations on complex topics that are in a format that resonates with them.
4. Boosts Digital Literacy: If we’re talking about bringing technology and media literacy into classrooms, this is a high-interest way to do so. There are a lot of discussions that can be had, about algorithms, about filters, about critical thinking and looking at who is creating these videos, and for what purpose. There is also the video editing, adding music, incorporating text, etc. that can be explored if you are looking at media production.

Cons

1. Privacy and Safety Issues: Instead of throwing this in other considerations, I think this goes in the cons this time around. Common Sense Media did a review of TikTok, and there are some definite concerns when it comes to thinking about whether or not you would want to bring this into your classroom. As you can see below, they’ve got an age suggestion, we’re looking at 3 of 5 stars, mostly for iffy content, and there are a lot of privacy warnings that come with this particular platform (as, you could probably argue, would probably come with most social media platforms).
2. Distractions and Inappropriate Content: TikTok is for social media first, and the educational aspects are just a portion of what is available. TikTok, and social media in general, are formatted in such a way to be addictive. It would be extremely easy for students to get distracted! And unfortunately, some of the viral challenges (devious licks) that TikTok hosted proved to be quite destructive, and are not something you want students to be viewing during class time. There are also a lot of videos out there that, while filters can provide protection for students, without the proper supervision (and parent consent), are probably not something you want students accessing.
3. Time constraints and over-simplification of complex topics: While the short videos can be a huge hit, and provide excellent “bite-sized” snippets, you also have to take into consideration that some topics can’t be reduced too much without losing some very important concepts. Because these are things students are probably still learning, teacher oversight is really needed to make sure the essence of the lesson is still there.

My Own Experience with It:

Let me just reiterate, I had to download this app and make a profile when I started this, so I am not an expert on this at all. At. All! I have learned a few things, I’ve done some research into what others have to say and suggest, and I’ve collated my take on it below.

When you open the app, if you have a profile, your “home page” is automatically going to start showing you videos, which I find very jarring (as someone coming from Insta and Facebook, where a lot of what you [I] see are static posts). The first couple videos I swiped through, to start, were not really my style, but it very quickly starts to learn your interests! Especially if you’ve done some searching. By the third or fourth time I was logging in, it was showing me, mostly, content similar to what I had been searching. You can see below, one of the first few that popped up for me was another George Kamel video. I ended up following him and Dave Ramsey, and my feed is already a mix of them, and random crocheting videos. And crazy cat videos, because my youngest was “helping” me with my research, and that was her chosen search.

As you can see from the top of this particular screenshot, you can choose to browse what’s been selected for you, you can look specifically at people you choose to follow, you can explore (I’m not sure if these are the newest? most popular?), and start doom scrolling, or you can roll the dice on checking out live streams, or check out STEM videos (feed dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – I tried that. Once. And then my brain started to twitch, because a lot of way beyond my understanding, or tied to some residual trauma from an awful first-year chemistry experience in university [just joking…kind of]).

On the profile account, you can see that I am still securely hidden away in my private account, and was following all of one person when I took this image (I am currently up to two, so really stretching myself). You can add a lot more information than I currently have, which is not really why I joined TikTok – I am definitely more of a visitor in this realm than any kind of resident.

And when you are looking to actually create something – which I have no delved into  – you just hit the + button on the bottom there, and away you go! I believe you can also create videos elsewhere and upload them, but like I said, I haven’t ventured that far into the app just yet, nor is that really my intention in using this.

When it comes to actually using this in the classroom, I will admit that I have been erring very much on the side of caution. I have not asked students to download the app, or to access it on their own phones. I don’t know that I am even close to that point just yet. I have:

• done some careful searching and previewing, and have selected videos to show my class
  • it is amazing how many students are suddenly focused on the video, and seem to be actually engaging with what is being shown
• started to put together an assignment asking my Financial Literacy students to find videos that present some kind of financial advice, and I have agreed that, if they have it, they can search on TikTok
  • they have to analyze what advice is being given, and do some research into whether or not this is actually sound financial advice, then explain why or why not
    • I’ll report on this assignment as we really get into it

Conclusion:

I am not suggesting that the class collectively download TikTok and teachers just set their students loose. Talk about a recipe for disaster! If we think about it within very clearly defined parameters, TikTok offers exciting potential as an educational tool, both for engaging students in innovative ways, and for allowing them to use their social media experience by engaging with a platform they may already be using quite regularly. Its integration into classrooms would, absolutely, have to very carefully approached. Teachers would need to establish clear guidelines for its use, and would need to review appropriate usage and expectations. In using videos that have been carefully selected, or in asking students to identify or create videos for specific purposes (while also providing other options for students who don’t have or want this particular app), I think a lot of distraction concerns and inappropriate content could be avoided. Obviously we have no control over what students are doing on the app in their own time, but I do think integrating it into the classroom, and showing students how to use it responsibly, could potentially impact how they use it outside of the classroom as well.

Additional Resources:

• Common Sense Media’s Parents’ Ultimate Guide to TikTok
• TikTok for Teachers: A Look at Using TikTok in the Classroom
• TikTok in the Classroom: The Good, the Bad, and the In-Between
• 30+ ready-to-use TikTok lesson ideas for teachers – The Complete Classroom Guide
• The Rise of TikTok Teaching: 3 Fun Ways Educators Can Bring TikTok into the Classroom
• Using TikTok As Teachers