Unit Two: Social Media in the Classroom
Image borrowed from FrankCavazza.net Website
Objectives
- Participants will be able to identify three possible educational benefits of using social media in the classroom.
Introduction
Social media is one of the fastest growing media markets in the world. Through the use of web-based and mobile technologies, social media sites allow users to collaborate, communicate, and share knowledge across many different forms. By allowing the individual to effectively communicate effectively and distinctively between mass parties, small groups, and other individuals, social media sites are becoming the new means of communication. More importantly within education, statistics now show that roughly 75% of teenagers are currently using some type of social media. This large percentage of users will greatly enhance the ability for teachers to effectively interact with their students through social media. This unit will help to educate participants on what exactly social media is, how it works, and how it can be used to increase one's ability to educate students.
Do Some Research
Social media can make a tremendous impact within the classroom in modern education. To further examine this impact please read the following essay which was first published in The Europa World of Learning 2012. "Social Media in Higher Education" by Neil Selwyn provides valuable insight into the upsides that social media can play in education.
After reading the article by Neil Selwyn, please now read "The Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom". In this short essay by Karen Lederer, both the advantages and disadvantages of social media use within education are examined.
Assessment
In order to help guide your learning and understanding, please take this Social Media Quiz for self-test.
After completing the quiz, please review the answer key for the Social Media Quiz which can be found here: media: Social_Media_Answer_Key.pdf
Reflection
What types of social media could you picture using within the classroom?
References and Resources
Lederer, Karen. "Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom". http://campustechnology.com/Articles/2012/01/19/Pros-and-Cons-of-Social-Media-in-the-Classroom.aspx?p=1
Selwyn, Neil. "Social Media in Higher Education". http://www.educationarena.com/pdf/sample/sample-essay-selwyn.pdf
To the next unit: Unit Three: Facebook and Twitter as Educational Tools
To the previous unit: Unit One: Web 2.0 in Education
Eric Stott's Profile: Eric Stott
ETAP 623 Homepage: ETAP 623 Spring 2012
Social Media in the Classroom