7 Ways Social Networking Tools Can Be Used in the Classroom

Social media has become a phenomenon that has been widely embraced by individuals of all ages, partly due to its accessibility and entertainment value. It has infiltrated just about every sector of society, most notably the field of education. Although some may argue that social networking is not an appropriate method of instruction, it can still have an impact on students and the educational process.

An article by K. Walsh of EmergingEdTech.com has identified 7 ways that social networking can been used effectively in classrooms, which are listed below:

1.  Engagement

When a student uses social media, the automatic implication is that the student is in fact participating in a social behavior with others. “In other words, using these tools to communicate and interact requires a student’s active engagement.”

2.  Social learning

Through the use of social networking tools, students are inevitably learning from one another, in the form of observation or modeling, etc. Although this is quite different from the social learning that occurs in a classroom setting with face-to-face interactions, these opportunities to learn social behaviors still exist.

3.  Use time outside of class better, so you can use class time better

Social media allows educators to communicate with their students, deliver content and assign homework to be completed outside of school. This method results in more time allotted in the classroom to complete other activities.

4.  It provides opportunities for writing and writing assessment

Students have become quite adept at creating and implementing their own texting language, which doesn’t necessarily follow the rules of grammar or spelling. However, when educators develop social media based assignments, they can require students to write responses that are grammatically correct, and can grade the responses accordingly. The assessment of the written responses helps the students to develop and refine their writing skills.

5.  Encourage dialogue, reach more students

Many students do not feel comfortable expressing themselves in the classroom in front of their peers, but can spend hours in front of the computer. For those students, communicating via social networking may be the best option. “One clear advantage of socializing across the Internet is that it is seen as less intimidating than face to face contact, and can allow shy students to express themselves more comfortably.”

6.  Help students get ahead of the professional curve

The main goal of the educational system, Career and Technical Education in particular, is to prepare students to be successful in their future career paths. Social media has grown to become an integral part of business communications as well. “An increasing number of professional positions desire or require social media awareness, and it seems likely that more positions will call for this skill in the future.”

7.  Build connections

By integrating social networking tools in the classroom, educators can not only engage their students, but can also provide opportunities for their students to connect with each other and other students around the world. In addition, educators can connect with other professionals to share best practices and communicate effective instructional strategies with one another.

Source: 7 Reasons To Leverage Social Networking Tools in the Classroom