How The Use Of Social Media Can Reshape The Education Sector?

In the last few years, internet has drastically revolutionized the education sector. In addition to this, social media has added more interest by changing communication medium and creating more impact on education. Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are two chief and largely used mediums to explore and market education. Today, students, professors and education experts can connect with each other through social media medium and create awareness. The rising interest and availability among young students is an undeniable fact.

Social Media- A Primary Tool:

Social media has now become a primary tool for education to reach every possible corner. With the technology and social media going hand in hand, students from a remote corner are getting a chance to get an education in best possible way. Apart from this, it also plays a primary role for recruitment, marketing, PR, alumni relation and for overall development.

Networking sites like LinkedIn and Pinterest are becoming next tools to spread education for target audience. Be in it India, or any other country in the world, institutes are engaging more and more into social media tactics to empower students and even self. Even teachers are using these tools to empower students to avoid getting exposed to inappropriate material, sexual predators and harassment by peers.

In fact, there have been many cases where students have been caught using such tool for wrong reasons and plagiarism act. So is the reason why critics are calling to add regulation and asking authorities to avoid students from getting exposed to social media.

Positive Effect on Students:

There are profound benefits on students using social media for gaining education. As per the study conducted by University of Minnesota, it was found that students using social media are getting better and are getting benefit from incorporating into curriculum. Additionally, teachers are also able to increase student’s engagement with increase social tech and built better communication skill with each other.

In fact, the use of this medium in the classroom has provided a real example of the positive reach. For instance, a 7th grade teacher in Portland started a pilot social media program, 20 percent students came up with extra completed assignments which carries no credits and the grades gone up to 50%.

In another study, students were asked to use Twitter for assignments. This increased their engagement over semester. This certainly shows that how engagement in social network can help students to engage in communication with teachers.

How Social Media can be integrated in education starting from schools?

Schools and colleges are taking a step forward to allow children using social media for communication and assignment purpose. Let us now see how social media can be integrated with education with few positive steps:

• Adding value by using Social Media Apps: There are number of social media apps which are specially designed for educational purpose. These apps allow students and teachers to communicate, to increase vocabulary and utilize for other educational gaining. Many apps even allow students to know the latest happening in the education sector. These interactive free and paid apps are effectively used in this sector.
• Getting Students Feedback: Seeking feedback from students is very important regarding an issue or event happening in school or college. It is impossible for the authority to seek feedback from each and every student manually. With the use of apps, students can enthusiastically participate in giving feedback on an event.
• Classroom through Social Media: No doubt, social media has become a great way to share knowledge outside classroom. Teachers are now moving out of the classroom to share and educate subject knowledge through this medium.
• For Internships and Exchange Programs: Presently, many colleges and schools are conduction online selection for foreign exchange programs. This way, students get to discuss different elements of syllabus and further studying opportunities. Moreover, internship programs are also discussed and shared online.

Technology usage in Education:

Technology along with social media is playing a major role in taking education sector into a new level. Distance learning is the prime example of this achievement. Distance learning models have gone ahead of the game. Student from any of the part of country can complete higher studies through a distance learning program. To keep with the pace of technology, providers are using the latest online technology to share study materials and promote communication with students. MOOC is the latest phenomenon which also indicates that social media is having positive impact on education. Skype is one such online tool that helps teachers and students to stay in touch and communicate. Teachers can easily deliver lectures to students through this medium, which is much more easy and fun than classroom session.

Blogging sites and forums are also encouraging teachers and students to communicate and share content and syllabus. Forums are best example on how social media puts impact on education. Many educational forums help school and university students to get regular updates regarding exams, syllabus and helpful tips. Forums are the best way to connect with students and gain more exposure towards the subject.

In the US, more than 80% of college and university faculty use social media as a medium to reach their students. 50% use it for teaching purpose and 30% for communication purpose. Today, many schools across the globe have replaced chalk slates with internet connected counterparts, tablets and projectors allowing students to understand the technology and evens social media apps for engagement.

The best thing about social media is there is no hierarchy involved. Direct interaction, easy reach and spreading of education to a vast young learning audience makes the medium worth using. To put it simple, education is vast and complex. And to overcome this situation, innovative solutions are required.

Author Bio: Shipra Sinha works for Shiksha.com (India). She is passionate about creating content for the digital media. Loves to travel and reading. Follow her on Google+

Reference Links:

http://effectivestudentmarketing.com/press/how-social-media-is-changing-education-infographic/

http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/Howsocialmediaischangingeducation.aspx

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/27/social-networking-schools_n_840911.html?ir=India

http://trak.in/tags/business/2012/04/26/school-social-media-integration/