What role should social media play
in education? This issue is an ongoing
debate in which advocates point out the benefits of social media for today’s
digital learners, while critics call for regulations and the removal of social
media from our classrooms. Finding the
middle ground can be quite a challenge in this day and time.
Let’s begin by considering the pros of using social media as a
learning tool in education.
1) It is a familiar
tool, so turn it into an educational tool.
Students today are fluent in Web and social
networking technologies and are therefore comfortable using them. Teachers can use this knowledge to their
advantage in order to enhance their students’ learning experiences. Social media can promote collaboration and
discussion, create meaningful dialogue, encourage student interactions, and
even allow students and teachers to connect in new and exciting ways. In fact, most of our students are on social
networking platforms and can probably show us a thing or two in return (Lederer, 2012; Osborne, 2012).
2) The potential to
appeal to different learning styles.
"The varied types of
media and information found on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
can appeal to a wide range of learning styles, no matter whether a student
naturally prefers kinesthetic, audio, or visual learning" (Osborne, 2012, para. 13). These websites provide a platform where
students can have discussions, exchange ideas, and find answers to their
questions.
3) Relevant, real-life
learning.
"Students entering the workforce can use
social networking sites to help them find employment. For example, with LinkedIn, students can
establish a professional web presence, post a resume, research a target company
or school, and connect with other job seekers and employers. Some college career centers and alumni
associations use Twitter to broadcast job openings as well as internships. Students can also follow businesses or
professional organizations on Facebook and Twitter in order to stay updated on
any new opportunities or important developments in their field" (Lederer, 2012, para. 7).
4) Resource
availability.
"There is an endless
range of free resources available through social media, both linked and
hosted. Students have access to current
news feeds, can follow public figures, and can even learn a new language or
improve software skills. Facebook and
Twitter’s search functions make them both a valuable and free set of tools" (Osborne, 2012, para. 6).
5) Enhance student
engagement.
Social media can be
used as an effective method to increase student engagement. Today’s students are generally portrayed as
being “glued to their devices,” so teachers can use this to their advantage by
incorporating this technology, which the students take an interest in, into
their instruction (Osborne, 2012). "Students who rarely
raise their hands in class may feel more comfortable expressing themselves on
Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube" (Lederer, 2012, para. 5). These
social networking platforms therefore can help stimulate discussions among
students who otherwise may be too shy or intimidated to respond out loud (Lederer, 2012).
6) Improvement of
communication.
"Social media can be a
great way for students and teachers to communicate effectively if conducted
within a controlled environment" (Osborne, 2012, para. 8).
Teachers can answer students’ questions by using a Facebook page or
Twitter feed, post homework assignments and lesson plans, send messages and
updates, schedule or announce upcoming events, and share interesting websites
and multimedia content (Lederer, 2012; Osborne, 2012).
7) Improvement of
research skills.
Having research skills
and being able to find information online is becoming more and more important
in the workplace. These skills "can be
taught to the students through lessons designed around social media platforms" (Osborne, 2012, para. 7).
8) The promotion of
digital citizenship.
In today’s educational setting, students
have to learn about how to appropriately conduct themselves online. If they behave in ways that are considered
cyberbullying, they will have to face the consequences. Students also need to understand privacy
policies and the transfer of data online.
These lessons can all be taught by introducing students to online
platforms within the traditional school curriculum (Osborne, 2012).
9) Ease of access.
Using social media in
the classroom requires no expensive equipment or modern upgrades. A computer or mobile device with an Internet
connection is all that is needed (Osborne, 2012).
10) Teachers can
improve their own knowledge and skills.
As teachers become more
familiar with these platforms, "they are making themselves more aware of issues
surrounding their students today" (Osborne, 2012, para. 5). This
way, if a student is being harassed over Twitter, then the teacher will know
how to search profiles in order to investigate the situation at hand (Osborne, 2012).
Now let’s consider the cons of using social media as a
learning tool in the classroom.
1) The gimmick factor.
"Unless social media is incorporated into a
class plan so that it contributes to an objective lesson aim, then it could
become nothing more than a waste of time" (Osborne, 2012, para. 16).
Social media should have a purpose in the lesson and not just be used
for the sake of incorporating technology into the classroom.
2) Distractions.
Teachers complain that social media is
distracting in the classroom. They
maintain that Facebook and Twitter divert students’ attention away from the learning
process (Lederer, 2012). "Unless teachers properly
supervise their students, it can be difficult to follow through with a lesson
based on Internet research" or social media platforms (Osborne, 2012, para. 17).
3) Limiting
face-to-face communication.
Some teachers believe that by using social
media in the classroom, students are missing out on valuable lessons in
real-life social skills. The lack of
these skills could put students at a disadvantage during college admission or
job interviews. Even at social
gatherings, students need to be able to express themselves and connect with
others (Lederer, 2012).
4) The risk of
cyberbullying.
Social media can be a
weapon of malicious behavior.
Cyberbullying is widespread on social networks and teachers need to be
aware of this and monitor student activity for any signs of bullying (Osborne, 2012). In a study done by Indiana State University,
it was found that almost 22% of college students admit to being harassed online
and of this group, 25% reported that they were bullied through a social
networking site (Lederer, 2012).
5) The possibility of
malware infections or phishing scams.
"Social networks are now
a breeding ground for scam artists who try to lure both children and adults
into exchanging personal information.
They also try to gain access to computer networks. Teachers and school systems need to be aware
of this risk and should monitor student usage accordingly" (Osborne, 2012, para. 23).
6) Continual social
media change.
Social media is
constantly changing. Schools and
teachers must keep up-to-date with these changes to platforms and their security
settings and act accordingly (Osborne, 2012).
7) The need to filter
and plan.
Schools have the
responsibility of protecting their students from inappropriate communication,
images, videos, and any other content found on these social media sites. "The use of social media platforms has to be
planned and executed appropriately in order to ensure the safety of the
students" (Osborne, 2012, para. 24).
8) Exposing the “haves”
and “have nots.”
When introducing social media use in the
classroom, students may be asked to bring their own devices, especially if the
school does not have the facilities to supply each student with a device. This can cause a problem because it "can
highlight divides between students who can afford certain devices and those who
cannot" afford them (Osborne, 2012, para. 27). This can lead to
bullying of the lower income students.
After reviewing the pros and cons of
social media, one can see that this will continue to be an issue that schools
and teachers will have to consider very closely when determining the role
social media should play in their classrooms.
Today’s students come from a tech-savvy generation that is very
comfortable conducting much of their life through social media channels. These students use YouTube, Facebook, and
Twitter as tools for learning and collaborating on a daily basis, so schools
have to decide whether or not to find ways to integrate these tools into their
classrooms as educational learning tools.
You decide. Do you give social
media in the classroom a thumbs up or a thumbs down?
References
Lederer,
K. (2012, January 19). Pros
and cons of social media in the classroom.
Retrieved from http://campustechnology.com/articles/2012/01/19/pros-and-cons-of-social-media-in-the-classroom.aspx
Osborne,
C. (2012, April 10). The pros and cons of social media classrooms
[Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/the-pros-and-cons-of-social-media-classrooms/15132
No comments:
Post a Comment