Social media has brought a revolution in the way we do things, the way we see things, and the way we seek information. It has made us savvier and more aware of things happening around us, and depending on the way you use social media, it can become your trusted confidante or another app you end up wasting tons of time on.

Because social media has also affected the way assignments, research papers, and examination prep is done, students should know how to use it constructively, in such a way that helps them complete these tasks in the best way possible.

One of the most useful, and perhaps the most interesting, applications for students, teachers, and parents is Pinterest. The Pinterest platform is a visual pin board that allows users to pin images from blogs and websites, making it easier for them to refer to these later.

What can parents, students and teachers use Pinterest for? Here are five ways you can effectively use Pinterest for educational purposes:

1. Add subject specific images to use in an assignment or a class discussion

With Pinterest, you can find a Pandora’s Box of information across many different categories. Whether you’re in school, college, or are doing a PhD, Pinterest can be used to find interesting bits of information that can give an edge to your presentation or paper. History, architecture, photography, education, science, art, and technology are just some of the many categories you can use for project research and more. Even if you’re not actively researching for a project, just pin stuff you like for future reference.

2. Find crafts and projects for school

The DIY and Crafts category on Pinterest is a great way to find project ideas for school. Teachers can definitely use this to get ideas for crafts and even parents can get inspiration for summer family projects. You’ll also find many pins for family projects, which parents can make use of to spend some time with their kids and also make room for some much needed family time in their schedules.

3. Get lunch ideas for kids

The Food & Drink and Kids categories offer amazing resources for busy mothers on everything, right from maternity care to even pins for creative lunch ideas.

Kids can be a fussy lot when it comes to food. By using ideas on Pinterest, you can breathe a sigh of relief by using flavor combinations and presentation techniques that your kids will love.

4. Use it to pin infographics

Since the meteoric rise in blog reading and social sharing, infographics have become the perfect way to pack a lot of information in one neat little graphic. You can search for infographics using the Pinterest search bar, or through categories that interest you. The information presented in these infographics can also be used as a reference for assignments and other papers. Make sure you credit them properly, though. Even if you don’t require these for a class assignment, reviewing infographics related to your subjects can provide you with in-depth information that may not be included in your text books.

5. Find new books to read and recommend

The Film, Music, and Books category is a good resource to find books and movies that teachers want to share with their class or parents who are looking for new reading material for their kids. Even students can use this category to find new books to read and share with their friends! You can even create a reading list and set a challenge for your kids or students to read a book in two weeks, or better still, start a reading club with your Pinterest reading list.

The options are limitless. Use social platforms to find information related to subjects you like, to read about prospective schools and university programs, or to connect with a school page on Facebook.

Connect with schools on Twitter or with students who share the same interests. Twitter is also a wonderful resource to find reading and research material. Irrespective of which social network you use, make sure there is some degree of control, both for parents and children. It’s easy to get carried away in doing things that cost you time which can be better invested elsewhere.

Khusboo Aulakh writes on behalf of social shopping and broadband consumer advice website www.broadbandgenie.co.uk