Many students who are easily distracted or disinterested also struggle with poor attendance or grades. Bringing social media to the classroom offers students an engaging way to connect with the curriculum, often leading to better grades and attendance.

One school in Portland, Oregon, saw measurable progress after implementing a social media pilot program. Teacher Elizabeth Delmatoff reports that grades went up more than 50 percent and chronic absenteeism improved by 35 percent.

You can also use social media as a way to stay connected with students who miss school because of illness or inclement weather. Sites like Ustream and YouTube allow teachers to upload entire lectures for students to view and comment on using their home computers or mobile phones.

Need another reason to use social media in school?