The Educational Value
of Social Media
Dear Parents, Students,
& Friends:
Does social media and social
learning promote educational opportunities for improved student understanding?
“New technologies, most often
referred to as Web 2.0 have created a growing phenomenon in public and academic
use, changing the way organizations and people create, engage, and share
existing or newly produced information through multi-way communication. Additionally, the use of social media
interfacing through the computer and mobile devices is now becoming more
prevalent” (Teclehaimanot & Hickman, 2011).
Social media is defined as, “a free
flow of information is enhanced through new communication tools and sites that
are referred to as social networking sites” Stewart, J. (2011).
Although social media is an umbrella
term it of course can include Facebook and Twitter and others
and they are cyber spaces that allow for interactions
and the expression of ideas through the internet platform and its technology.
“Social networking sites have
abilities of promoting virtual communities to interact and communicate
synchronously or asynchronously opportunities to the user community of posting
and sharing pictures, podcasts and videos” (Fogel & Nehmad, 2009). Ferdig (2007) suggests, “social networking promotes
interaction between learners and potentially improves active learning as in the
student-centered constructivists' environment. …it makes sense to utilize
Facebook as a higher education learning tool because students are already
engaging in it.”
In a general poll taken in 2011, 16%
of college students indicated they communicate with their classmates about
course related topics. New
communication tools enhance this communication through audio and visual
capturing string, connecting and retrieving features that include interactive
sites such as Blogs and Wikis which have capability to promote and facilitate
'common creation' through conjoined academic ventures.
The future of
technology in education is in our hands; We need to proactively work together
to obtain and share best practices. What is required is proper training and
support for teachers with the skills needed to evaluate new technologies and,
to, identify sources such as Web 2.0 Tools and portable technologies for
professional development and application in education.
And finally,
safety issues in technology use: It is now highly
recommended that teachers follow the technology guidelines set out by the Canadian
Teachers' Federation (CTF). Parents/guardians
will always be advised before students use social networks and clearly
understand the specific platforms used in the classroom. "Electronic media are very public…policy makers recommend a clear division
between personal and private. “Many teachers have become skilled at
incorporating social media and new technology into their teaching…….allowed
them to interpret history through a modern lens” (Sailiken, 2009).
A final consideration for
my blog followers: Over the past 10 years, widespread use
of the Internet in the United States has revolutionized how the average
American accesses and interacts with a plethora of information, pertaining to
health and disease informatics. Because of expected
surgical staff shortages, an increasing number of medical graduates will use the
Internet as a valuable tool to stay connected to the world of medicine. (Some
examples of online surgical training sites: accessurgery.com; Resident
Curriculum Portal; surgicalcore.org.)
It is my most
sincere hope that you have enjoyed this posting and it has left you with food
for thought on the use of technology in concert with social media use in the US educational
system.
And before I depart this
evening, please enjoy a tour of my
Art History Facebook page:
Best wishes to
my readers –
Lorelei
Keywords: Social media,
Academics, FaceBook, collaboration, higher education
Betrus, A. (2012). Historical evolution of instructional
technology in teacher education programs: A ten-year update.TechTrends, 56(5), 42-45. Retrieved from SNHU
Shapiro library: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11528-012-0597.
Social learning-by-design: The role of social media. Knowledge Quest, 37(5), 58-60. Retrieved from: http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/194729669?accountid=3783
Stewart, J. (2011, Apr 20). Social media 'tools' offer
opportunities for teachers. Star
- Phoenix. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/863
Taylor, R., King, F., & Nelson, G. (2012). Student
learning through social media. Journal
of Sociological Research, 3(2),
29-35. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1032658405?accountid=3783.
Tilt, A., Mermel, C., Conrad, C., (2011). How surgical residents use social media.
Department of Surgery, Massachusetts
General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Retrieved from SNHU
Shapiro Library: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2011.05.022.
