Pros and Cons of Social Media in Education

Pros and Cons of Social Media in Education

The roles social media plays in education are not debatable. It is evident that education depends on social media. However, this also comes with quite a number of limitations. In this sense, social media in education needs to be regulated within its parameters to avoid the irresponsible use of this vital resource. Social media is functionally necessary in the field of education considering that it enhances the interactions of teachers in so many and different ways (Lepi, 2012). Websites such as Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook act as arenas of interactions where learners from different parts of the world exchange scholarly ideas and find answers to educational related questions. Despite these benefits, social media applicability in education has suffered a lot of criticism. The critics present the other side of social media, and it is necessary to consider both sides of the matter in order to get a solid evidence. Social Media In Education And Healthcare Case Study Essay

Social media acts as an educational tool in the sense that educators can use this tool to enrich the students with knowledge and pass learning experiences. The instructors foster collaboration and discussion, exchange of new ideas, creation of a meaningful dialogue and boost students’ interactions. Another advantage of social media in education is its unique ability to enhance students’ engagement (Junco, 2012). Social media acts as a way to develop the student’s communication skills. For example, students who rarely raise hands in class may be more comfortable to express themselves to their Facebook friends. Social media also improves the communication between students and teachers. Educators freely answer the questions of students via Facebook or Twitter. Teachers also send post homework assignments and lesson plans conveniently using social media. During their part time, instructors tweet about issues of contention discussed during class (Osfield, 2009). Social Media In Education And Healthcare Case Study Essay

Social media has disadvantages for students too. When students are connected, they successfully search for information on Google, Facebook and other web services, although the use of the Internet simultaneously seizes and fragments the attention of students. Consequently, there is a likelihood of students missing some crucial information from their tutors due to the divided attention. Another seemingly fatal disadvantage that comes along with the use of social media in education is the subversion of higher order reasoning process (Barnes, 2007). The focus, concentration and persistence of individual students is altered to the extent that the student’s ability to think critically is at stake since they are used to getting all the information they need from the Internet. With persistent use of the Internet, the results are less tenacity, less patience, poor critical thinking skills and impulsivity. This is usually a result of overdependence in the use of social network to do everything in academic work. Social Media In Education And Healthcare Case Study Essay

Prolonged uses of the Internet usually expose students to repetitive, interactive and addictive stimuli. This stimulus has been proven to cause permanent changes in the brain structure, which damage the learning skills of students (Mills, 2011). Although it is true that the longer one uses the Internet, the more the students develop the skills of skimming and scanning, it is also a proven fact that this degrades the concentration spans of individual students.

Conclusion

From the foregoing, it is so clear that social media in education is essential. Students should also increase their interest and the will to know more about social media since it is a field that is highly dynamic. It changes severely with the changing needs of the public. In addition, the use of social media in schools should not be banned with an excuse of moral disruption and time wastage. The best ways to react to social media is only embracing it positively and engage the same in the student’s learning strategies. Students will not be bound by the walls of the classroom; instead they will use the Internet productively in order to interact with other students in group discussions. Furthermore, educational administrators should understand the pivotal role played by social media in education. They should consider the pros and cons as presented in this research with the purpose of changing their irrational thinking patterns, which promote the fact that students always abuse the Internet