Relation between social media and Education
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Running Head: RELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND EDUCATION
Relation between social media and Education
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Running Head: RELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL MEDIA AND EDUCATION
Relation between social media and Education
Mohamed Mohamed Dr. Kerry. S. Kleyman
Metropolitan State University PSYC 312: Research Methods November 22nd, 2022
Relation between social media and Education Abstract
This paper investigates the connection between social media and education. The usage of social media as a teaching tool by educational institutions is examined in this research. We will look into social media’s function, advantages, and drawbacks in education. Students’ opinions on social media use and how it impacts their academic performance in situations where social media use and school life coexist. Additionally, it offers suggestions for how social media might be utilized in education to enhance the teaching and learning process.
Introduction
Social media usage has affected everything, including schooling. Students from elementary school to graduate school have benefited from its empowering benefits. Most schools introduce social media at a young age so pupils can gain proficiency as they mature. Due to the increased interaction between teachers and students on social networking sites, social media is strengthening the school community. The contact between the students and the teachers improves educational achievement since they can ask any questions without being afraid of being
corrected.
Problem Statement
In schools, social media is being used as a teaching resource. However, the investigation of the benefits and drawbacks is not done in order for the educational system to devise strategies for utilizing social media expressly to enhance the teaching and learning processes.
Importance of the problem
Social media offers several benefits for schooling. Students can use it to their advantage to study better, and since distance learning allows for video conferencing, it makes it easier for each student to be in the classroom. Social media can, however, harm pupils’ academic achievement if it is not used properly. Social media is tremendously disruptive, and children and teachers cannot profit from it unless a balance is achieved. Education organizations are expected to strike a balance when the negative impacts are discussed and make sure that students know the advantages of social media platforms as learning tools.
Literature Review
Social media is frequently used in schools for educational objectives. According to statistics, more than 90% of students use social networking sites to access the internet. Students do not just use social media for instructional purposes; they also utilize it for enjoyment. Because of the disruptive effect, which could impact students’ academic performance, it raises concerns.
The Use of social media in Learning and Teaching
Thanks to social media, students have a platform to communicate with subject-matter experts. They learn new information through this method, which helps them get better marks. Social networking services allow educational institutions to contact students in an emergency and alert them of the situation (Vilarinho-Pereira et al., 2021). Social media is crucial for the research process since it allows for the retrieval of important material with the assistance of professionals.
Advantages of social media in Education
Student collaboration has expanded due to social media. Through social media, students can interact and form groups where they can exchange experiences with others taking the same course. The students can help each other out when they are having difficulties, and learning
various course topics is made simpler by working together. The students also give each other advice on strategies they might utilize to comprehend the material and ace the test. Through social media, students can participate more actively and express their opinions openly without worrying about how others will react or be judged. Students from several schools majoring in the same course may join a group using social media. It implies that none of these students know one other (Su & Huang, 2021). Most students are reluctant to join since their classmates know them, but social media has established a free forum where students can assist one another with their studies.
It is simple to review team initiatives thanks to social media. As long as everyone on the team has logged in, it is simple to manage the project, such as reporting progress and making
sure, that everyone is completing the tasks that have been assigned to them. Rich eLearning media are now accessible to students because of social media. The pupils can attend whatever school they choose, thanks to eLearning (Gikas & Grant, 2013). The quality of video conferences in the classroom have improved. In a remote learning class, the students can participate via video conferencing, which saves them money on travel expenses.
Disadvantages of social media in Education
The likelihood of pupils becoming sidetracked is considerable since they can begin utilizing social media for purposes aside from learning. Students will likely fail the topic when they are not paying attention in class. The distraction cannot be avoided because no educator is watching what the student is doing, and it impacts the student’s overall educational achievement (Greenhow & Lewin, 2016). The teachers must demonstrate to the students how to use social media platforms as learning tools and the significance of maintaining concentration.
Social media platforms have little control over the offensive content that students might view. The students might start utilizing social media to get inappropriate content, such as pornography and obscene photos, because no one is watching them (Vilarinho-Pereira et al., 2021). By teaching students things that interfere with their education and hinder their academic progress, such information compromises their morals. The pupils, especially the younger ones, might even be persuaded to experiment with some questionable things they see online, including fashion. These issues make studying difficult.
Social networking requires much time because it may take some time to study any important information. Additionally, when students work together, they can spend much time discussing one issue rather than studying other pertinent topics. The student’s overall performance is impacted when more time is squandered because all of the course material may not be addressed. It could occasionally be misleading to rely solely on social media for all
contact information (Alruthaya et al., 2021). It can be difficult to tell if everyone in the group is a student or if some of them are there to make contacts for the individuals, they will later stalk. On social media, credentials are not disclosed; thus, the contacts could occasionally be suspect.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Method
The research study went through various steps to collect data from the sources, including a preliminary survey, interviews, and questionnaires. The case itself is at Universitas Buddhi Dharma, a private university, Faculty of Technology and Science, Information Technology Study Program, 4th semester, Academic Year 2016.
Participants
There are 40 students in the fourth semester of the information technology program study and 35 lecturers from Universitas Buddhi Dharma making up the total of 75 participants. In 2016, the questionnaires are collected in July–August. There are four sections of students, two in the
morning and two in the evening, ranging in age from 18 to 35. Male and female professors’ range in ages from 25 to 65.
Material
The development and use of social media and the internet, as well as their impact on education, were important topics of the study. Questionnaires with 14 items were created to gauge respondents’ opinions about social networking sites in general. In order to better understand the issues that matter to both users and nonusers of social media, a thorough exploratory phase was carried out prior to the study. This is the 14-item social media survey that is being given to both teachers and students. Three categories have been created for the questionnaires:
Positive way of using social media is on questions no. 1, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11.
Different between students and lecturers of using social media is on questions 2, 9, 14.
Opportunity of university using social media is on questions no. 3, 5, 8, 12, 13.
Procedure
The items were graded using the Lickert scale, with 5 questions focusing on social media usage in a favorable way, 3 on how differently students and lecturers use social media, and 5 on opportunities for both students and lecturers to utilize Facebook and other social media. Before being used in this study, the scale underwent pre-testing on volunteer subjects. The pre-test was intended to assess the instrument’s overall technicality as well as any comprehension issues with the items. The survey instruments from the literature and the comments from interviewers served as the foundation for the questionnaires. Researchers with experience integrating social media, Facebook, and a learning process into education altered a number of questionnaires. The research employs questions with a Likert scale ranging from [1] strongly disagree to [2] disagree to [3] agree to [4] strongly agree. 40 students and 35 professors who firmly believe that the internet, Facebook, and social media are helpful to them in their teaching and learning processes participated in a pilot test of the instruments.
Results
In addition to other social practices, social media like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, and Google Plus have grown significantly in popularity in contemporary culture. Although social media was primarily utilized for simple reasons and personal usage, its incorporation into
education is becoming increasingly popular since it allows for easier connections between students and professionals. Many social networking sites offer capabilities beyond those offered in firewalled settings, making them substantially more desirable and enticing. Despite the benefits of integrating social media into learning, it is crucial to reevaluate its use in schools, given that most media are public, which creates several concerns. Although the open nature of these exchanges poses a risk to students, the advantages of open discussions and academic debates frequently outweigh the risks.
Both experts and students utilize social media in a variety of ways. Social media is becoming more common in school, but students also use it for other things, as shown in the example below.
Figure 1 depicts the various ways that students use social media.
As seen in the example below, social media is used in education at all levels, including primary school learning.
Figure 2: Application of social media in education
Discussion
As seen in Figure 1, students apply social media in various ways. Most students use social media for several purposes. According to the pie chart, only 17.5 percent of kids utilize social media as a resource for learning. It demonstrates that many students may not be aware that social media can be used in education or that some students would rather not use it. When asked if they were addicted to social media, 45% of the survey participants said they were (Yadav, 2021). It demonstrates that many students are inclined to browse other social media sites while studying, which hinders learning and negatively impacts academic achievement.
Social media’s delayed uptake as a teaching tool in classrooms has been a trend. Figure 2 illustrates how most educational institutions, including those in Europe, have encouraged students as young as five to utilize social media. Adoption challenges abound, and they are classified as wicked, difficult, and manageable problems. Making learners active participants in the design of the learning process and figuring out how to use social media to promote
sophisticated thinking and communication are among the wicked issues. Finding a balance between formal and informal learning and figuring out how schools can generate authentic learning chances are the difficult problems encountered. Addressing the low digital literacy of students and incorporating ICT into teacher education are other challenges that can be resolved. However, the graph demonstrates that social media adoption increases as learners age, demonstrating that it is being embraced in education.
Students can connect with subject-matter experts by using social media. Students can learn about experts in various subjects through social media, and they may also communicate with experts in those fields, which strengthens their academic abilities. When students begin to follow various professionals on social media platforms, they have the chance to learn from the experts and, as a result, are better equipped to produce better scores (Vilarinho-Pereira et al., 2021). Social media may also improve students’ perspectives on various subjects by delivering enlightening and new knowledge. As a result, students have the opportunity to consult professionals and get assistance and answers on any subjects they may need.
Institutions can reach out to students through social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube. These websites and platforms are highly helpful for informing students of any other crucial information and spreading announcements and campus news. Through group discussions, educational institutions and students’ usage of social media helps address various issues that concern students. Since most students use social media, institutions can provide information to all students through social media. For instance, a school may implement hashtags on social media to engage kids in helpful online discussions (Greenhow & Lewin, 2016). Learning institutions also use videos to encourage and inspire students to achieve their academic objectives. Therefore, institutions can engage students in debates between the institutions and the
students that help manage students using social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. To achieve best practices, an institution must, however, consider the social media channels they use.
Conclusion
Social networking provides many advantages for academic pursuits. Students enrolled in remote learning can communicate with one another and offer advice on many subjects. Students can interact and inform one another about what is happening within the same institution (Sharma et al., 2022). Students can collaborate, participate, and share their studies. However, social media use in schools can negatively impact kids’ academic achievement if it is not properly supervised. When learning and social life are combined, learners are hampered. Some schools have integrated social media learning early to achieve digital competency. In this way, students develop their knowledge of effectively using social media for academic objectives. Educators
can connect with their pupils through social media, such as video conferencing. Every learner contributes in this way, which makes learning easier.
Recommendation
Social media rules should be in place at educational institutions that use social media as a teaching tool to instruct students on what is expected of them. The policies will outline the sanctions to be applied to the students who disobey the stated plans. The rules will instruct the pupils on how to conduct themselves professionally while promoting social engagement. The information students will be permitted to share on social media will be explained to them,
especially in colleges. Some information may compromise a student’s reputation, which could impact their future professional prospects as companies may decide if they are qualified for the
opportunities offered. Most businesses utilize social media to research candidates’ backgrounds before hiring them, thus the material posted there often reveals a person’s personality.
A teacher should be in charge of policing how students interact on social media learning platforms. When students are teens or young adults, they may be tempted to get in touch with other students and begin dating, which may ultimately impede their academic progress. Each student will have a different opinion on the subject when debating it. Having a teacher in charge of correcting the students is crucial because any assumptions will be avoided in this way.
Additionally, the teacher will set a time limit for each topic. This will give any subject that interests a student enough time to be covered and allow students to grasp principles that will help them in their academic pursuits. Social media will succeed in its intended purpose of promoting education thanks to regulation.
References
Alruthaya, A., Nguyen, T. T., & Lokuge, S. (2021). The Application of Digital Technologies andthe Learning Characteristics of Generation Z in Higher Education. arXiv preprint arXiv:2111.05991.
Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016). Social media and education: reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning. Learning, media, and technology, 41(1), 6–30.
Sharma, A., Kaushal, S., Fulzele, R., & Kumari, T. (2022, March). Role of social media in Engaging Students: Perspectives from Higher Education. In 2022 8th International Conference on Advanced Computing and Communication Systems (ICACCS) (Vol. 1, pp. 1683-1686). IEEE.
Su, X., & Huang, J. (2021). Social media use and college student’s academic performance: Student engagement as a mediator. Social Behavior and Personality: an international journal, 49(10), 1-8.
Vilarinho-Pereira, D. R., Koehler, A. A., & de Souza Fleith, D. (2021). It is understanding the use of social media to foster student creativity: A systematic literature review. Creativity. Theories–Research-Applications, 8(1), 124-147.
Wankel, C. (2009). Management education using social media. Organization Management Journal, 6(4), 251-262.
Yadav, M. S. (2021). Role of social media in English Language Learning to the Adult
Learners. International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation, 4(1), 238-247.