Social Media In Teaching and Learning
According to thebalancesmb.com , social media refers to any digital tool (websites and application) that allows users to quickly create and share content with the public efficiently and in real time. Facebook, twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram and tiktok are some examples.
As per datareportal , 10.78 M people had access to the Internet in Nepal till January 2021. Whereas around 13M people are recorded as social media users. According to same source, there were 38.61 Millions mobile connections in Nepal in January 2021. This data shows that now we can use mobile devices, internet and social medias in teaching and learning process. Mobile devices and social medias play a vital role in students academic performance and career enhancement. Specially in the present situation of covid-19 where physical classes are next to impossible, social media can provide educational e-learning opportunities to students.
Benefits of social media in teaching and learning:
- Finding Concrete Information Online:
Students need a lot of information on different subjects which can be made available on various websites and social media network. According to their need and requirements students can find answers to their queries on different social medias. Students can get idea and inspirations for their project works from sites like Tumblr and Pinterest. They can also find currents news and data on social media which keeps them up to date on current affairs. Social media learning is the new era of learning.
- Improved Literacy, Communication And Reading Skill
The information on the social media can be in the textual, audio, video with eye-catching animation and color, so the students who are quite lazy to read are also attracted to read. As online messages, posts, comments, news and articles provide tremendous information to read, students get motivated and start putting some effort towards their learning, which in result improves the student's literacy, reading and writing skills.
- Communication and Collaboration:
Communication is the biggest advantage of social media. Using smartphone, tablet or computer students can connect with anyone. They can exchange questions, do discussions and if they stuck with their homework or any topic, they can always communicate with their teacher/ tutor or friends via phone calls or video calls. They don't have to wait to meet their teacher physically. On the other hand teachers can connect with their class via Facebook live, Youtube live streaming and Skype calls. Social media can also be used to share learning materials via Google Drive Box, Google Docs or attaching files in the wall post.
- Distance Learning
Distance learning opportunity is another great advantage of social media. In the current situation of Covid Pandemic many students are taking formal education with the help of various online tools along with social media. Hosting live lectures via Skype, Facebook live or some educational apps has become advantageous for students from remote areas where they would have to walk two or more hours to reach their physical school.
- Parental Involvement
Parents can make their involvements in their child's learning by being connected with school via school's social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter. Following news feeds and posts on school's social media, parents can get information on school related activities, such as Teacher-Parents Meeting PTA, projects and events, learning and education. Social media enhances the communication between parents and school. Parents can make queries about their child's progress and activities in school. This positive impact of social media on parents can have direct impact on student's performance and progress.
Disadvantages of social media:
- Distraction: The biggest disadvantages of social media in education is the distraction it creates in student. The content in the social media are made attractive, mind diverting so the student's attention may get distracted and this affects the learning process.
- Cyberbullying : Social media has become a great platform for both teacher and students to connect, share and learn in one hand where as on the other hand it has also become a place for some student to abuse their peers and even teacher sometimes.
- Posting unsuitable content on social media: It is challenging for both school and parents to keep an eye on students how they use social media. A student may post inappropriate content on social media that may harm school's and his own reputation.
- Lack of head-on communication: For the better personal relationship and social life, students need to meet their peers and teacher in person and express themselves. Use of social media lacks this interpersonal connection, and students are missing this valuable lessons in real life skills.
How can different social media be used in teaching and learning?
There are millions of social medias in todays world. Among all of them Facebook remains at the top with about 2.843 Billion monthly active users followed by YouTube with 2.291 billion monthly active users(datareportal). These two social medias are mostly used social media in Nepal as well. So, it is obvious that we can make a good use of these social media in teaching and learning.
Youtube :
Youtube being the most popular social media with most number of pubic reach, can be used as a learning platform. It is a video streaming social media platform where a user can upload videos of any types. This platform can be a good alternative for flipped learning. We can make best out of this platform in the following ways:
- A teacher can make an interesting video tutorial of his subject and upload it in YouTube. He can assess students to watch the video and later do discussion on the topic in classroom both physical and online. This way a student can learn the subject asynchronously in his/her favorable timing.
Click here to learn how to upload a YouTube video.
- YouTube also has the features of live streaming and comments which are advantageous for both teachers and students as synchronous teaching learning can be conducted. If any queries arise can be solved at the same time.
- Teacher can encourage students to watch educational videos published by other youtubers.
- Encourage students to film videos related to subject and publish in their own channel as assignment which can be graded.
Facebook:
Facebook is another most popular social media which can also be utilized to create an e-learning platform. With its feature of wall post, a teacher can post the course contents along with the links of related Videos, websites and journals etc. Comment section can be used as discussion forum and with its statistic we can track its reach to the targeted audience and its effectiveness. Following are the ways to make Facebook a useful learning platform:
- Create a Facebook page and groups for each class to post class updates, share homework assignments and encourage students in discussion in comment section.
- Share something that will make students laugh with which students can both have fun and learn.
- Use the page to post assignment guidelines and to remind submission deadline.
- Use the page to share motivational videos link to encourage and motivate the students.
- Allow and encourage the students to ask any questions they. Be available to help them solve their problems.
- Share videos related to the topic you are teaching, ask all the students to watch it, learn from it and discuss about it both on online and physical class.
- Encourage students to make video on the subject matter and post in Facebook page. For example; a video making tea, planting flower, demonstration simple science experiments etc.
click here for more information on how Facebook page can be used for teaching and learning.
Facebook Messenger:
Another social media Facebook Messenger can be used to create a close group for sharing ideas, views and related media etc. It can be used for direct communication among the students and teacher. It can also be used for evaluation of work of the student.
Click here for more information on how Facebook messenger can be used for student centered learning.
image source: https://www.pinterest.ie/pin/
References:
- https://datareportal.com/
- https://elearningindustry.com/
- https://www.ozassignments.com/
- https://shyamsundari1984.blogspot.com/
- https://myprojectwrk.blogspot.com/
How learning is improved by using social-media in education?
ReplyDeleteOf course social media provides the virtual platform for teaching and learning in this covid pandemic scenario where physical class seem challenging. It gives some hopes for the students as well as teacher to stay in connection in teaching and learning. But i see some challenges to avoid misuse of social media and to address the students who don't have access to device and internet.
ReplyDeletethank you. Teaching through social media is better for theoretical subjects but for technical subjects it is less effective.
ReplyDeleteYou describe greatly about Facebook and YouTube as learning tools but there are more hidden social media like clubhouse, Twitter . How can we use such platform as learning tools. But what you explained is really good. Thank you about that 😊
ReplyDeletewhat are the limitations for using social media in education?
ReplyDeletein country like nepal, digitak literacy is quite low. children take siply facebook and online sites to chat and pass time. in other hand cyber related crimes are also involved.
ReplyDeletei think you have to discuss how to transform the young minds to use social media in teaching and learning very effectively?
Thanks for information about social media.However many social media being best way to teaching and learning methods but there are too much challenges in developing countries like Nepal
ReplyDeletestudents are using these sites for entertainment purpose only but if we give and suggest them about the importance and positive impact about its use in our learning goal. we can make a group in it and can share the teaching and learning process.
ReplyDeletehow social media can be used only for learning purpose only as students are misusing them
ReplyDelete