Education is a field that has quickly adapted to digital transformations in the last decade. From smart classrooms to smart learning devices, the education industry has embraced the changes. It is almost with certainty one can say now that social media plays a significant role in the digital world. It has remodeled the way we plan, interact, and even enjoy our lives.
According to the Pew Research Center survey, nearly 45 percent of teens are online regularly.
There are no stopping students from using social media these days. However, these platforms are not only about wasting time scrolling down the screen. While many parents and teachers are still skeptical about the distractions caused by the internet, it is not all downhill. Like any other platform, it has its own benefits too.
Social media provides students with several opportunities in many aspects, encourage them in many ways and open doors to the world like never before.
In this article, let us look into a few ways in which social media can actually help the students.
1. Interaction and Collaboration
A few years back, it was almost unimaginable for kids to reach out and collaborate with a kid at the other end of the world. Today, students in all age groups find themselves studying together, sharing ideas and teaming up to create.
The concept of the social network itself is to promote socializing between the users. There are many communities now being created in these networks among which there are credible educational sites too. They serve as a learning platform for students promoting online collaboration between them.
This communication network is just between students themselves. Today, it is possible to contact a personality you have only heard of, to reach out to a role model or find inspiration from successful people. Not only students but teachers are also benefiting from such interaction with peers and experts on many niches. Online social platforms have made it easier and accessible to make these web rendezvous making the skills and resources accessible to almost all corners in the world.
2. Student Engagement
Individual student engagement is another area that social media has brought improvement in. A student who hardly participates in class might thrive in an atmosphere set by the internet, and feel more comfortable in expressing themselves. There are also chances that it might actively influence their confidence and the way students interact with peers.
When used in the right ways and with the right tools, the academic engagement of the entire class could be promoted to a large extent using social media. Social networks could also be used to bring in effective communication between parents, teachers, and the school itself.
3. Finding Resources
Social networks of today are not only services for engagement. They are also a huge library of resources of almost every kind. It is remarkable how much information is available on these platforms. For example, YouTube has revolutionized the idea of tutorials. Today, anyone can find a tutorial on almost every imaginable thing on earth.
From learning how to write a narrative essay in college to how to play the piano, there are exclusive web channels that use such networks to publish their works and connect with platforms. Whether looking for resources for a class project or to write an entire thesis, these platforms now essentially serve as a treasure of knowledge. Moreover, it is also easier to reach out to other communities via these networks and gain insight directly.
4. Developing Skills
The skill set required by students of the 21st century, especially in this decade, is much advanced than before. Social media plays a significant role in help students develop skills, including creativity, technical, and communication.
They are not only a learning place but also a place where they can also exhibit these skills. It could also teach them how to work against odds, criticisms, and fight for positivity. It can also encourage youngsters to use technology and information safely and cultivate a decent online etiquette.
5. Global Exposure
If the internet has got one thing right, it is to broaden the horizons like never imagined possible. While aiming for engagement and interaction with people across the globe, social media also provide immense knowledge and experience from the same.
Today, the networks have made it possible to know and immerse yourself in a different culture, learn, and experience them. From live classrooms to give collaborations, social media has tremendously contributed to the exposure students are receiving today. They also encourage students to develop unique identities and adapt themselves to the changes happening in the world much quicker.
6. Accessibility And Cost
The efficiency of social media is so alluring because of how accessible it is. Much of these resources are available for free only with the requirement of an internet connection. Whether in the smart classroom to have a video call with an online tutor or to watch YouTube videos, social media has made many things much convenient.
7. Job Opportunities
Considering the broader community of students, social media today play a huge role in providing job opportunities. Not only have they created employment, but they also serve as platforms to find jobs. Many companies and firms now use social media to update their openings while the students are using the media as their working portfolio itself.
The connections through the internet could open many doors of opportunities, with even a following base bringing in commissioned works. With the social networks, it is now far more possible to get your works recognized and out in a display. In the current scenario, ratings, comments, and likes are considered seriously and could even be a deciding factor for certain professions.
With appropriate use, social media can certainly be used to develop skills among students. The technology is presenting the education system with endless opportunities, and it is up to us how we use it and in which way. Use it wisely, and social network can serve as a very useful tool in education.
[Recommended related reading: Why Education Is A Powerful Content Marketing Strategy – 10 Examples]
[Main image by rawpixel.com on Freepik]
Natalie Norman is custom essay writer and blogger. She specializes in writing articles on such topics: students life, writing, social media, etc.