Social media has billions of followers and thousands of sites that can be used for educational purposes. Most educational institutions have adopted the use of social media to improve the quality of education in their institutions.It provides both students and tutors an opportunity to gain access to multiple and rich information as well as share it among themselves. It also makes it easy for institutions to foster connections with students and enables shape students culture. About 60 % of internet users are students; therefore, integrating social media in the educational programs is essential, besides there is an already excellent target group.
How can social media be useful in education?
Enhances communication between institutions and students
Learning institutions are using social media platforms like Facebook, google plus YouTube, and Twitter to run discussion among the students. They use these platforms to pass relevant announcements to the students. Using hashtags enables students to share and give insights on particular issues that affect them on one platform. Institutions, on the other hand, have an opportunity to respond to them creating trust with the students. Educators can also use videos that they can post on YouTube to help students get information regarding their projects and provide them with links to access such kind of information
It has enhanced the use of learning management systems
Institutions have included learning management systems that deliver educational programs and give institutional administrative activities atouch of social media.Activities may consist of chat functions, videos, and forumsthat enable students to share information and other learning resources. LMS, when used together with social media, can provide group reviews and blogs that are additional materials to the learning process. Teachers agree that including social media in the learning process is the perfect solution to attain good grades and students cooperation
Research
When students are doing research, social media tools help them, to produce and compile useful content for research purposes. Social media search engines are loaded with rich information that students can find very useful. These tools also give students reviews and analytics that help them analyze precisely how people feel about particular issues. You also get experts to take on various aspects.
Creates a higher parents involvement in their children school work
Social media has given institutions a chance to get parents involved in their children performance in school. Keeping in mind that parents too have social media profiles also like Gmail, Facebook, Twitter,Instagram,Institutions can take advantage of their profiles and let them log in to the Learning Management systems to access information regarding their children.This is helpful since sometimes parents are too busy and getting them involved can be difficult. Parents can also be included in the school community and can get news regarding their children’s school various activities.
Social media promotes distant learning opportunities
Educators are exploring the world of social media by opening up new opportunities to participate in online distance learning as a way of attracting students to their institutions. Learning programs that have integrated social media are better visited and are not likely to be dropped as compared to the traditional programs. Colleges and universities are being advised to adopt social media to attract students and create a positive learning environment.
The online programs have become very convenient since they attract all kinds of students from different demographics and promote maximum effectiveness with very interactive material and learning methods.
Some students are also using online educational platforms like Khan Academy for their studies which is better than on-campus learning.You can also become a teacher by using programs like Udemy that allows you to educate your followers on your Udemy profile.
Social media has created a reading culture.
People have found it easy to read without being forced. There are many exciting reading materials in the form of articles, message, and news that attracts readers.Since they are interesting, they keep reading them hence gaining knowledge. The amount of educational materials available is vast and unique, and it keeps the students interested in reading and helps them increase reading and writing skills.
When people especially teenagers interact in social media, they are attentive to their grammar making them very alert to avoid spelling mistakes. Impeccable grammar creates a good impression in front of their friend’s eyes. When they use the same grammar in their academic work, it improves their grades
It creates a platform for learners to connect with experts.
On social media, you will come across experts in all fields of study. Getting in contact with them or following them will give you useful insights.You also get to learn from them by internalizing what they share on their social platforms. When you start emulating them, you will have a chance to become very successful and perform in your studies. Such an experience will help students gain a broader approach toward the world in general.
Encourages a student to build social credibility
When students develop a brand through their social networks, they also create a portfolio for their careers. They can use their platforms such as Instagram,Twitter, Facebook to share educational materials that can eventually launch a student’s career indicating the revolution of learning using social media tools. When potential employers consider the background of such a student, they are convinced on the level of expertise hence credibility for their careers.
Social media has opened up learning institutions
Institutions can market their different programs in the diverse social media platforms like Instagram Facebook and Twitter. They have also created websites that make it easy for students to access information about an institution. Students can also register for courses online before joining.
There is also the rising need for institutions to market itself to attract the best students into joining them to pursue their interests. They can use different platforms for advertisement including Facebook or Instagram.To succeed in these social media platforms, they will need to gain an audience that will make an institution appear famous. Gain exposure with Instagram auto comments, for example, will help them gain necessary statistics in terms of an audience to attract traffic to their site.
Final word
Social media platforms help to build beneficial tools that make learning a pleasantprocess. These platforms will soon transform learning into an inspirational process.