What is Social Media?

Social Media in education

 Social Media refers to websites and mobile applications that promote online networking between people and brands. Through social channels, people can message each other, make friends online, and share information. Businesses also use social media to interact with their clients and promote their products and services. Social Media channels include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, among others.

 Social Media has impacted our lives in many ways. It has enabled brought the world to the palm of our hands. Using our computers and mobile devices, we can communicate with people regardless of our geographic locations. We can shop online while brands can build a global audience in the comfort of their offices.

 If Social Media has made an impact in almost every aspect of our life, we should also incorporate it into education. Social Media has the potential to build a better education experience if used well. This blog post explores ways in which Social Media has impacted education.

How to use Social Media in education

i) Facebook

 Schools can create an official Facebook page to share important updates with teachers, students, parents, and the community. On the Facebook page, the school can post information about enrollment requirements and upcoming events including games and academic contests.

 Students with common interests can create a Facebook group to share important information including scholarships and other academic opportunities. Students can also post questions on these groups and others can share answers and insights.

ii) Twitter

 Through its official Twitter handle, a school or group of students can be sharing subject-specific insights and connect with influencers on the platform. A certain group of students including a club can come up with a Twitter handle to share news and activities. They can also come up with a subject and spread it through a hashtag.

iii) Following experts

 There are experts in various fields who are a source of inspiration to students. Students might look up to experts in robotics, space exploration, etc. Most of these experts have active social media pages where they share information about their specialties. Students can follow these experts to stay up to date with important trends.

iv) Instagram

  Instagram utilizes visuals to share information. A picture tells a thousand words and this makes Instagram an important tool to share information more compellingly. Several Instagram profiles share informative information through pictures and videos, and students can make use of such to capture relevant information.

v) Social sharing

 Many blogs and websites have social media buttons that allow readers to share an interesting post with others through various social media platforms. This is an effective way to share interesting content with your friends. Some of these blogs are educative and worth sharing. Social sharing makes it easy to do so.

 Social Media has taken networking to another level and it should be incorporated into education as it has the potential to improve learning experiences. It is a source of valuable information that students can make use of. Schools, students, and parents should therefore explore ways to incorporate social media into education.