What is The Impact of Social Media on Education

The past few decades of technological advancement have impacted education in many ways.

One way is through the use of social media, which has created a new form of learning. It’s important to understand how this change will affect students and educators alike. 

Some researchers believe that there are some negative impacts on children who spend too much time on these devices while others see it as an opportunity for more creativity and collaboration among peers.

While there is no clear answer yet, it’s important to explore what social media can offer teachers and students in order to better prepare them for the future.

1. Social media is used for teaching in many different ways

The way teachers use social media is changing. According to a recent report from Ascend2, a professional development services company, 74% of teachers who use social media for work say they have changed the way they approach teaching as a result.

In fact, one-quarter of those surveyed indicate that their students actively participate in class assignments where they tweet or Facebook together to discuss ideas and information.

In addition, teachers are also using social media as an assessment tool.

It is increasingly used to assess writing skills with options including responses posted on Twitter or blogging sites like Edublogs.

Research shows that these strategies can be useful because students who identify themselves online demonstrate increased productivity and better-written communication than those without accounts.

2. Social media provides an opportunity for people to learn about new cultures and ideas

Social media has also impacted learning by opening a dialogue about different cultures and ideas.

Facebook is one example of a site that provides support for people with eating disorders, recovering from addiction, and other similar problems where users can find help through members posting about their experiences.

In addition to this, sites like Twitter offer an opportunity to communicate around the world at any time of day or night.

Teachers can use social media as part of class assignments to research specific topics or current events that are relevant globally then provide feedback on how it affects their communities.

3. Social media platforms can be used as educational resources

There are many resources on popular social networking sites including TED talks on YouTube where educators can share important information about new developments within their subject area.

They can also share real-time events that are currently happening to student's live as they happen, which is not always possible with traditional educational tools.

4. Social media allows people to collaborate across the world

Because of social media, it’s now easier than ever before for educators and students to connect with others who share similar interests no matter where they are located in the world.

This makes it possible for teachers to provide instruction on specific topics or projects through webinars, Google hangouts, or other online platforms that allow them to interact directly with their students.

These types of interactions give children access to information that wouldn’t otherwise be available in their local community since it sometimes requires travelling great distances at significant expense.

4. Students are using social media in the classroom too

In a study conducted in 2010, it was found that more than 70% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 use social media, with most using these sites for over an hour per day.

Most spend this time connecting with friends or exploring their interests through sites like Tumblr and Instagram.

A recent study from the University of Michigan Digital Youth Study revealed how students are using social media during class.

In one survey, roughly 33% say they have used social media to complete assignments while another 25% post on Facebook about topics related to their studies at least once a week or more often.

Other popular activities include posting comments on photos or videos (19%) and tweeting in class (17%).

While there is no specific data on how widespread this activity is among students, it’s clear that more and more of them are using social media both inside and outside the classroom.

5. Social media provides a positive outlet for communication

Finally, social media also gives educators a way to connect with their colleagues around the world in addition to building community with other teachers locally.

It makes finding resources, sharing tips and best practises easier than ever before while eliminating geographical boundaries on communication possibilities between everyone involved in education from students to parents.

The impact of social media on education has not yet been fully determined because it's still relatively new (only 10-15 years old) and is constantly changing based on technological advancements.

This makes it difficult for schools to keep up with the wave of social media-related possibilities available to them in education so they typically take an ad hoc approach by allowing teachers to integrate these tools at their own discretion.

Wrapping Up:

Research shows that social media can be a very useful educational tool for children from kindergarten through college age where they can teach them about different cultures or help them conduct research on specific topics.

In addition, it enables direct communication between educators, other trusted adults and students, allowing them to provide guidance when needed. However, while there are many possible advantages to using social media in education, teachers should proceed with caution since it can also be addictive or distracting for some students where they spend more time on the sites than studying.