The Pros and Cons of Teaching Social Media in the Classroom


Implement it meaningfully and you can have the pros without battling the cons. Only once we’ve conquered stacks of marking, created resources, and wrestled with an uncooperative printer can we teachers get into the classroom and do what we do best. If you’re still worried about students being led astray, it’s worth using software that’s been curriculum-aligned and pedagogically tested by real teachers. For example, 3P has a team of educators from all over the globe who ensure our products are explicitly mapped to regional curriculum standards.

While it can certainly help, technology use in the classroom doesn’t always mean students are more likely to stay on top of their deliverables. For example, it can be tricky to know if your students are viewing the full lecture recordings or coming to class having completed their assigned readings. Social media and other ed tech platforms don’t necessarily indicate completion. Some LMS providers may show if a student has opened a file, but that only says so much. Whether students have reviewed, absorbed and are able to retain that information is a question that—like traditional learning materials—not all classroom tech can solve. By creating assignments in class that use both technological tools as well as oral presentations and group collaboration, student learning has the potential to become more dynamic and interactive.

Provides a better interactive experience during the learning and teaching process

Depending on the scale and quality of instructional design services offered at their institution, this can be a lengthy and uneasy process. Massive Open Online Courses , which prioritize unlimited participation and open access, let students gain an unrestricted learning experience without a professor present.

  1. While there’s no way to avoid spending money modernizing a classroom, it is at least possible to maximize the total cost of ownership by installing devices with longer lifespans and reduced maintenance.
  2. If a teacher considers digital media meaningless, they can always choose other options.
  3. Now Digital media has an immense role in almost everything from business to personal life.
  4. Some instructors are turning toward classroom ‘gamification,’ the use of competitive scenarios, and the distribution of points and rewards to make the online classroom more fun and engaging.
  5. This makes the notion of creating a structure and culture of respect all the more important from day one.
  6. Social media can exacerbate feelings of disconnect , and put children at higher risk for depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders.

Worldwide, people spent a daily average of 2 hours and 23 minutes on social media in 2019, up from about 1 hour 30 minutes in 2012. With a daily average of 4 hours 1 minute, the Philippines logged the most time on social media of any other country, followed by Brazil at 3 hours 45 minutes. In 2014, only 3% of students surveyed believed the content of their social media presence could hurt their prospects of admission.

Maintaining modern technology is very expensive

Increased participation and engagement – Online polling or asking quiz questions during lectures can increase engagement and make it easier for shy students to participate. People have more of a voice through digital media, which encourages citizen participation and the development of communities. If you are about to launch your micro-business or planning for a startup, you will have to depend on digital marketing platforms to promote your business.

  1. Today, the “new media” of learning has leaped off the pages of books and onto the web pages online.
  2. If the points above teach us anything, it is that social media can be an important learning tool when used appropriately — something that demands a great deal of planning and Internet savvy.
  3. And because enjoying digital devices tends to be a sedentary pastime, children may be more susceptible to weight gain.
  4. It’s credible and authentic and functions in a way familiar to them and their experiences online researching ideas, messaging with friends–and yes, wasting time.
  5. “Crowdsourcing” and “crowdfunding” on social media allows people to collectively accomplish a goal.
  6. 52% of students have reported being the victim of cyberbullying with 84.2% naming Facebook as the site through which they have been bullied, followed by Instagram (23.4%), Twitter (21.4%), and Snapchat (13.5%).
  7. And an estimated 2 billion people will be using smartphones this year alone.

A Pew Research Center study found that 56% of workers who use social media for work-related purposes think it distracts them from the work they need to do. The use of social media is correlated with personality and brain disorders. 31% of teens say that using social media during homework reduces the quality of their work. Over one-third of federal, state, and local https://shmessayist.weebly.com/blog/7-rules-for-making-your-company-a-success-business-tips law enforcement professionals surveyed say that they use social media to notify the public of emergencies or disasters. “Crowdsourcing” and “crowdfunding” on social media allows people to collectively accomplish a goal. Gay people speaking openly on social media, like Facebook site Wipe Out Homophobia, help achieve a greater social acceptance of homosexuality.

Pros of digital devices in the classroom

Additionally, friends on social media can have a “contagion” effect, promoting and helping with exercise, dieting, and smoking cessation goals. Being a part of a social media site can increase a person’s quality of life and reduce the risk of health problems. 78.5% of traditional media reporters polled used social media to check for breaking news. Social media skills are also quickly becoming an important aspect in hiring. “Indeed.com found that jobs requesting Instagram skills were up 644 percent from 2012, and those searching for Twitter experience was up 44 percent. By teaching students how to broach the perils that often come along with social media, you improve the chances that they’ll have a safer and more positive experience. Those who are worried are not wrong to be feeling this way—bringing social media into the classroom is widely uncharted territory.

Half of all mental health problems manifest by the age of 14, with 75% by age 24. Cyberbullying is one of the biggest problems among teenagers in schools. Students used to bully each other physically; now the bullying has moved to the virtual world.

We live in a digital world, and technology is an essential life skill

81% of teens age 13 to 17 reported that social media makes them feel more connected to the people in their lives, and 68% said using it makes them feel supported in tough times. A survey of internet users aged found that the average daily time spent on social media is 1.72 hours, which accounts for 28% of total time spent online. Educators from around the world interact with digital media in school pros and cons each other and bring guest teachers, librarians, authors, and experts into class via social media sites like Twitter and social networking tools like Skype. For example, teaching social media in the classroom gives students the tools they need to handle or react to a number of social media dangers like cyberbullying, sexting, peer pressure and online predator contact.

Matthew Numer, an assistant professor in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University, says in an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education that banning laptops is an “insult” to students. “Our students are capable of making their own choices, and if they choose to check Snapchat instead of listening to your lecture, then that’s their loss. Besides, it’s my responsibility as an educator to ensure that my lecture is compelling. If my students aren’t paying attention, if they’re distracted, that’s on me.” To Numer, students glancing at their mobile devices may indicate that a course’s curriculum and instruction needs to be revamped. For example, you can give students freedom in how they present project results. The smart ones, who could perhaps become IT professionals in the future, will find and deploy internet resources, such as graphics or charting software, to enhance the presentation. Technological literacy is the ability to use and adapt to technology flexibly and easily, and in an age where almost every career involves computer use, it’s never been more important.

Reduces educational costs

Students who want to learn more about a topic can research it online using Google or other search engines. If a student needs homework help, free tutorials and explanations are usually just a few clicks away. Students who are advanced in a topic can choose to find enrichment activities and work at a quicker pace. Students can choose to collaborate with each other through apps like Google Docs by sharing a document, or they can work independently. This opens up plenty of opportunities for individualized learning to thrive in the classroom.

That’s why it’s important for educators to share their insights on how to effectively teach kids when there is technology in the classroom. Depending on their socioeconomic status and living environment, digital media in school pros and cons some students may not have access to reliable Wi-Fi or be able to afford dependable devices. These disparities can affect online learning activities, online assignments, and access to online help.



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