Education has always been the priority of society and this field has gone through tremendous changes in the 21st century.
One such transition is the incorporation of virtual tools, such as social media platforms, which are being used as a medium to connect with students and learners.
Social media is referred to as websites or applications that let you create, share, and participate in a collaborative virtual society.
It has become an integral part of the education system more than ever, meaning that now there are several ways to use these apps within the classroom and outside as well. This shows that you can not only use social media for businesses but also the learning purposes.
But how does it connect the students to the world of learning? This article is perfect for learning about engaging in the digital age of networks and how it opens the window to the world of learning.
Engaging In The Digital Age Of Social Media To Learn
In the educational sector, there are 2 different types of teaching methods being observed as per the preference. They are as follows:
- Traditional (transmitting knowledge via lectures, readings, or presentations)
- Modern (utilizing interactive technologies, and various online resources)
Although both of these teaching methods are used in today’s classrooms, studies conducted by the researchers made some concerning observations on the traditional method of teaching.
Despite it being used in modern society, traditional lectures and paper-based learning materials often struggle to gather the attention of the students of the 21st century.
The students are likely to be more digitally immersed, which is why there needs to be a call for action to engage them in the learning process.
It is only possible by leveraging the collaborative and interactive tools to make them invested in learning what is being taught in the classroom.
This is why educators should try to mix up with their students by leveraging the social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, etc. It has led to social media management success due to the enhanced learning experiences.
In this manner, it helps in providing a dynamic medium to convey and communicate complex concepts engagingly.
Thus, what was once used for private communication is now used for improving the education system by enhancing the learning skills of the learners and the students.
How Social Media Opens The Window Of Learning
Social media has undoubtedly become an indispensable part of our lives. According to studies, it has been reported that at least 96% of students who have access to the internet are indulged in at least one social media platform.
This is a sign for you to get involved in these apps, incorporate learning, and make learning much more engaging for the students.
In this manner, all teachers in the community should indulge and explore the potential of these platforms that could be utilized to make education an engaging process.
There are many more aspects of how social media opens the window for learning, out of which 5 have been listed below:
Extends Learning Opportunities
Social media opens up another dimension of information to leave room for learning opportunities.
Online classes and remote jobs are now the norm in the teaching field since they educate the students about the digital necessity which is the need of the hour.
This can be done with the help of social media platforms as they support educators in countless ways including reminders, announcements, and live lectures.
In this manner, these platforms break down the traditional methods of teaching, which were barely engaging the students.
Promoting Interaction And Collaboration
Also regarded as one of the main advantages of leveraging social media apps for enhancing the learning experience, these platforms are known for facilitating learners’ communication and collaboration.
The learners can communicate to share ideas and get their queries cleared when they are trying to make a project together.
In this way, it makes learning quite intriguing and collaborative for the students to use them.
Build A Brand Image
Using social media applications or websites can help build the reputation of the institutions.
This is done by the marketing teams hired by the institutions to manage a positive brand reputation.
By using the right strategies like posting stories, achievements, and facilities provided by the institution to bring them (universities, colleges, schools) into the positive limelight.
It increases the endowments, improves the alumni relationships, and also attracts students to the institutions.
Bridges The Gap Between Theory And Practical
Although the traditional method of teaching has been around for centuries, this kind of education system is repeatedly lacking the desired level of practical application. This has led to several criticisms.
This is why as time passes by, the world is switching to social media platforms because it can bridge this gap and connect the classrooms to real-world scenarios.
Let us understand this with the help of an example. An official Instagram handle for the institutions (university, or school) as well as the various departments, where all the posts are related to the concerned fields.
In this manner, it is easier for students to track upcoming events and work.
The Positive & Negative Impact Of Incorporating Social Media In Education
Just like every coin has two sides, there are positive as well as negative impacts of incorporating social media in education.
But first, let us learn about the positive impact:
- Accessibility
- Enhanced networking
- Awareness
- Improves relationships between the tutor & learner
- Easier to monitor the learner’s progress
Now that you are well-versed in the positive impacts of using social media for learning, take a look at the negative impacts of the same. They are as follows:
- Cyberbullying
- Sleep cycle disruption
- Reduced Productivity
Although there are some disadvantages of social media, careful and its careful and calculative usage of social media apps might not harm in any manner. Ultimately, it also depends on how the apps are being utilized.
Overall Inputs
Although the traditional method of teaching has been around for centuries, the researchers have observed that the students have had a better experience as they learn using social media apps.
It is a myth that social media apps and websites are limited to private content or business-oriented content, since there are several tools that can be utilized for teaching students and enhancing the learning experience.
It helps in making the learning process much more engaging and fun, since the way of teaching becomes much more interesting and easy to retain without being bored.