Social Media—it’s used on daily basis by millions of people all over the world. With Facebook now having over 1.3 billion monthly active Facebook users, it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t already been submerged in the world of social media. With all the uses of social media, why not use it to benefit education?
When incorporating social media into the online classroom, it creates a strong framework in which students can interact, communicate, and learn with other students and teachers. Students often fall behind when they are in an environment that lacks communication. Without the essential communication and interaction students need to be successful, they find themselves feeling lost and disconnected from their learning environment. The secret to a successful student is a connected learning environment.
Aside from the strong framework social media creates, the incorporation of social media into the classroom of students motivates and encourages students to learn. As of September 2013, nearly 73% of 18-29 year olds use some sort of social media. Teens and young adults have become incredibly tech-savvy, making social media the perfect solution to student education. Students who are using social media for online classes are motivated to share, collaborate, and learn from other students. Offering online collaboration for already social students gets students excited to learn in a more “modern” and familiar way.
Students who are already familiar with social media are more likely to reach out to teachers and students for help. Students can now e-mail, instant message, or post questions to teachers on course-related topics, getting faster feedback and answers. Students can also get a hold easily of peers who are taking the same course or just attending the same school, creating an environment in which students learn from other students. Attendees can post questions, videos, events, or links to the entire student body, sharing helpful information or receiving instant feedback. Social media may just be the framework students and teachers are looking for, getting students excited for the world of education.