Educational Value of Social Media

The debate over technology use in the classroom is not a new one. We have debated the use of the internet, standardized testing, and the teaching of evolution in the classroom,  to name a few. The social media debate is the newest of those classroom debates. According to a 2013 PEW Research Study, 95% of all teens use the internet and 81% of those teens have a social networking site. (Madden, 2013). Social Media includes the online platforms for Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Linked-in, Blogs, Slideshare, Flickr and other photo sharing sites, wiki’s, podcasts, and You Tube and other video sharing sites.

Social media helps students learn to collaborate. “Teaching students to collaborate and be team players is just one of the benefits of teaching social media that has been identified.” (Hagler, 2013) Additionally, Hagler states “Students with social media skills will be better prepared to find and get jobs.”. According to DeCoskey (DeCoskey, 2011)“when students are participating in activities online, they’re more likely to be engaged, and achievement rates rise”.

While there are many benefits to using social media in the classroom, use of social media use has been linked to cyberbullying and inappropriate relationships. However, Hagler states “Given the possibilities of social media misuse, teachers have the opportunity to discuss the appropriate use of social media. Teachers have the opportunity to guide students in being respectful and courteous to people online as well as in other settings.” (Hagler, 2013)

In the classroom, teachers can use social media in several ways. Social media extends the classroom discussion time by bringing the discussion home via social media sites. Blogs can be used to create online science portfolios and work on peer to peer collaboration. Facebook allows educators to connect with other colleague’s students, parents and more. Google Docs can be used to collaborate between group members. Podcasts can be created for recorded lectures and posted to iTunes or other podcasting site.

Using Twitter and the 140 character limit allows students to feel less pressure when answering questions. Twitter in the science classroom, bring in current science news, which is an integral part of science literacy. Additionally, students can follow current scientists and engineers such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, NASA, Nova, Scientific American, Smithsonian, and more. Students can also live tweet with astronauts from the International Space Station. “In addition to teaching the use of Twitter, teachers have the opportunity to teach students a theory which is based on a concept that will be beneficial to them in their future professional lives.” (Hagler, 2013) Using Wiki’s, students will learn the benefit of writing collaboratively. Creating their own You Tube or Vine videos allows students the opportunity to show their creativity and share the science that is happening in their classroom. (Hagler, 2013)

Our class Twitter account, allows students to connect with current science developments, connect with each other, respond to questions and receive fun and exciting news in the world of science and engineering that allow students to make real life connections.  Using Twitter in our class increases our student’s science literacy a key learning strategy in the NH K-12 Science Curriculum Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards. While teaching students to use social media, teachers have the opportunity and responsibility to help students develop other workplace skills such as collaboration and creativity while teaching students to responsible and professionally use social media.

Works Cited

DeCoskey, R. (2011). Should Schools be Using Technology. Retrieved from Business 2 Business: www.business2community.com/social-media/should-schools-be-teaching-social-media-051782

Hagler, B. (2013). Value of Social Media in Today's Classroom. Journal of research in Business Education, 14-23.

Madden, M. (2013, May 21). Part 1: Teen and Social Media USe. Retrieved from PEW Research: http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/05/21/part-1-teens-and-social-media-use/

Qualman, Erik (2014) #Socialnomics 2014 Retrieved from You Tube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxpa4dNVd3c