Social Media as a Teaching Tool
Posted by Nicole Andreas | July 7, 2009
Blog by: Cody Olsen, OrgSync Campus Liaison, Dixie State College
Just like many others, I am fully aware of the recent uprising of the mega-internet platforms now known as social media. Their increase in popularity has brought a new level of communication and interaction to all groups and ages, especially on college and university campuses.
As a full time student I know that social media has become just as effective as e-mail, text messaging, and phone calls because of the instant communication capability. Many times on campus I witness arguments between friends because someone failed to receive an invite to the latest social event. It’s clear that these students have already jumped on the social media train, but what about the rest of the campus population: the faculty and administration?
Untapped Resource for the Classroom
Many educators tend to adhere to the tried and true teaching methods of the past. Unfortunately, students are changing, and those once effective teaching methods are becoming stale. Faculty, and campus administrators, can utilize social media as a tool for creating new ways to engage students by posting relevant articles, research and websites to these social media sites that students are frequenting on a very regular basis; hence, encouraging outside the classroom learning.
Extend Learning Beyond the Classroom
Using these social media tools educators are able to reach students through new communication mediums and provide students with exposure and experience to valuable tools. Providing their students with the experience of blogging, developing podcasts and building professional networks, equips students with skills they will likely need after college due to the multiple mediums that all outlets are reaching out to with these social media tools. Allowing students to hone these skills inside the classroom, giving appropriate and constructive feedback, plays both into the traditional mode of teaching/learning as well as the know-how of the future tools.
Teach People, Not Lectures
Many of the postings and updates on social media sites are fully searchable and identifiable to a particular user or author. With the proper skills, educators can track and follow the indications of the comprehension and understanding of specific lectures, lessons, writings and assignments of their students over the duration of the class. Using social media posts, along with student interaction in the classroom, educators may now base their teaching on custom plans centered not only on the needs of their students, but the overall student participation level over these various social medium platforms. This bridge is easy to cross for the faculty member by indicating in the course syllabus the specific social media sites that they will be monitoring/tracking/participating in along with their students and then granting a certain percentage-point amount for participation, frequency, cogency, and relevance to the course materials.
These perks are only a small taste of the fresh new style that social media can bring into the world of higher education. In addition, we will see the potential for higher productivity, better student accountability, and increased participation because when faculty members are reaching out to students where they currently are, the internet, it establishes credibility of both the student and the faculty member. With new technology breeds innovation, and with the best and brightest minds utilizing this new medium, the possibilities for overall effectiveness are near infinite. It’s clear that the use of social media can have a great effect on the lives of students and educators alike. It’s time to throw away the stale, and to embrace and create a fresh new environment where education can thrive.
Staff and faculty must accept the challenge of social media for connecting with their students outside the classroom. It can only enhance their relationship, and it demonstrates some unspoken understanding to learn from each other through a different channel.
Using social media (or generally the internet) to engage students out of the classroom sounds like a great idea. I had a Gov professor who would often send us material related to the class and what was currently going on in Washington and the world through email. This information made the class that much more interesting and applicable to the real world.
Students spend so much time online, it makes sense to connect with them there.
Nicole, GREAT article. We need to write more about new and creative ways that faculty and student affairs administrators are using social media tools to add value to the education students are receiving and share these techniques so others may follow suit. I applaud your efforts and look forward to future posts!
Be well,
Ed
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