Many teachers and educators often think of social media as a distraction that can prevent students from engaging. But the truth is that social media can be used as another tool to open the door to new forms of engagement in educational environments.
These days, many educators are discussing how they’re not only using tried and tested social media platforms in new ways, but also experimenting with emerging platforms to improve student outcomes.
Here are five ways social media can improve engagement and learning.
Streamlining communication
Because many students regularly check social media, educators can harness the power of these tools to deliver quick updates related to many aspects of course work, from assignment due dates to changes in curriculum.
Posting and sharing insights
It’s not just students who are benefitting from the social media revolution. Teachers are also reporting massive benefits and online groups, blogs and communities become the new virtual staff room. Here, teachers trade tips and ideas that are having far reaching effects in the classroom.
Facilitating discussions
In traditional classroom settings, personality types sometimes dominate discussions by being the loudest voice. With online tools however, these discussions can be facilitated in a different way that encourages and embraces quieter students and their point of view.
Creating a community of students and faculty
The power of social media to create communities is widely known. But when taken into an educational environment, it can have extraordinarily positive effects on the relationships between students and teachers. Teachers can build a community around students and offer encouragement that might be harder to implement in traditional classrooms. This gives students a greater sense of connection and in turn increases their motivation to succeed.
Creating greater collaboration
With social media, organising group assignments has never been easier. Students know instinctively how to use the tools and communicate with each other effectively. This gives room for discussions to become broader and more nuanced, increasing the overall willingness to collaborate.
