Social Media as a 21st Century Playground: Lecture by Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia,

Social Media as a 21st Century Playground:

An Examination of the Supporting Research

A presentation by

Dr. Stephanie Grote-Garcia

Sister Theophane Power Chair of Education

Dreeben School of Education

University of the Incarnate Word

Monday, March 3, 2015

6:00 p.m.

Mabee Library Special Collections Room

Have you ever wondered how selfies, Twitter, Snapchat, and Yik Yak can be used to develop cognitive and social skills? In this presentation, Dr. Grote-Garcia, Assistant Professor in the Dreeben School of Education, will examine how traditional play and virtual play are similar. The presentation will be grounded in theories of play and child development, and will explore the multiple opportunities that social media offers for social and cognitive play. Specific focus will be given to the ways in which traditional and virtual play prepare individuals for a healthy adult life. Considerations for future research will also be discussed.