The power of social media can make almost everything easier- even life in the classroom. This is why educational institutions are integrating social platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter in their systems.
If you’re wondering if social media is really an asset in the classroom, here are three reasons that might just convince you.
1. Social Media Encourages Communication and Collaboration
Social media use in the classroom may not focus on the number of likes a post gets. It does, however, encourage collaboration and communication.
Social sites such as Facebook and Twitter help in the sharing of college information and to make useful class announcements. Students who are having difficulties with their assignments can also collaborate with other students remotely through WhatsApp or other social platforms.
Teachers also use social sites such as YouTube or Facebook Live, to share useful educational videos. Instructors can also initiate hashtags on sites such as Instagram and Twitter to promote helpful learning discussions.
Here are other ways classrooms can use social platforms to enhance collaboration and communication:
- A Facebook group can be used to host a class discussion
- Twitter can be a perfect message board to communicate assignment due dates
- Instagram can be used to present graphic or photo assignments
- Pinterest boards help teachers prepare worksheets and lesson plans
2. A Great Tool for Educational Marketing
Numerous learning institutions use social media for marketing. This helps them to reach a broader audience. It also gives parents, students, and other interested parties additional ways to stay informed of an institution’s developments.
Social media also allows educational institutions to give students and parents a glimpse of how learning in the school takes place. Through the sharing of videos, events, extracurricular activities, and photos, the institutions make their marketing resonate with interested students and parents.
Former students of some institutions also create alumni groups on social media platforms. Such groups are an excellent tool for marketing and networking. With a little help from some social tools such as SimplyGram service on Instagram, a group can extend their reach to more former students.
3. Opens Up Opportunities for E-Learning
Technology has enabled students that may want to learn outside the confines of a classroom to do so. While most learning instructors prefer to use Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to share knowledge, social media tools can also compliment LMS learning.
Social media platforms, unlike LMSs, are readily available to everyone that can access the internet. They are also easily accessible, and they have a smoother learning curve as most students know how to use them.
Here are some of the most popular social media platforms used for remote learning:
- Facebook groups help share ideas, learning materials, and course-related issues
- Twitter is a useful tool for social learning and for connecting students over an event or topic
- WhatsApp is the perfect sharing tool used to share educational videos, files, photos, and simple text messages
- LinkedIn can be used for class discussions and to share views and challenges on a given topic
The above are just a few ways you can use social media in education. If you haven’t embraced it yet in your learning, it’s about time you did!
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