User:LuisNoGo/Social media in education

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Social media in education is the practice of using social media platforms or technology to enhance students education. As time went on and technology evolved, social media has been an integral part of people's lives, including students, scholars, and teachers in the form of social media. Social media is "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, also known as the read/write web, that allows the creation and exchange of "user-generated content". Social media platforms can be used to complete assignments or projects electronically. Students can benefit from engaging in activities that involving computers and online platforms, as these opportunities can help them develop their skills in these areas.

Apps and services

Slack

Slack's logo which is still used.

Slack (2007) has been a communication device that has been used by employees and jobs worldwide. It has the basic features of any social media site - writing, videos, replies and messages are the main usages by workers. It has a similar design like Twitter and Discord and with the familiar design used by students alike, creating networks for teachers and students to use for writing and connecting with their peers.

A picture of the interface on Slack.

Slack's design makes it user friendly for both students and teachers to use on any assignments or projects they might have to do. The way it's used makes it easy for students to be "involved and energetic" about writing. This comes from the usability of social media. Via a smartphone option, it allows students to be mindful about how they can use an app to do learning in a classroom. Schools, ultimately, have an inexpensive option that provides students with another way to access learning.

However, there are a few problematic issues with Slack. Data protection is updated infrequently, and complete issues with online work as interactions could be lessened.

Benefits

Teachers can utilize social media platforms to communicate with their students beyond the classroom. These social media platforms can provide students with unlimited resources and texts from credible sources that they can utilize to their advantage in essays, projects, and presentations. They can also be used as a means of giving and receiving feedback at any time. This way students can easily access comments made by teachers and peers within a few minutes. Social media has the potential to change a teacher's pathway in teaching. Social media can be seen as a sort of archive of ideas and other media that can be retrieved by their users day or night. Since feedback can be submitted so quickly over social media, it has bridged a gap in communication between students and teachers. Since students can view and respond almost immediately, there has been an increase in communication which has led to a deeper understanding of class material for students. Social media also makes students think and view their fellow teachers and school system positively when it becomes present that it was apart of their curriculum.

From: Disadvantages

It is always important to be cautious when using social media, especially in the classroom. Although it's not recommended to ignore social media, individuals should still have an understanding of the negative impacts social media can have on society. Critics are unsure about how social media will affect the teacher-student relationship and commonly express concern about how distracting this kind of learning is. Some claim that it isn't a good way of teaching and that social media can give false information. Statistics show about 40% of teachers don't use social media as a day-to-day learning device. It has become a fear that students will become caught up in the chaos of social media instead of focusing on their schoolwork. With this comes the idea that an individual's intelligence might depend on social media instead of using them to help aid their foundations of thought. The overuse of this technology, while convenient, can also harm the expression of critical thought. Putting young students on social media sites for education can also be detrimental to their mental health. According to a survey taken of teens and young adults increased use of social media can lead to anxiety, depression, and lack of self-esteem. There is also a higher possibility that disturbing images can be sent and more negative opinions and events could be shared throughout interactions with one another. These issues can affect how a person functions normally and can be detrimental to education. If a student is overcome with mental health issues due to constant social media use, then it can be difficult for students to focus on schoolwork. Social media usage in higher education has its limitations, such as the dominance of educators in interactions between staff and students, privacy concerns, anti-social interactions, and discriminatory behaviour.