User:Cvdunn/sandbox

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Apps and services[edit]

The recent developments in technology have changed how and what students learn in a classroom. The internet gives students access to more resources than ever before, in terms of both research and learning tools. Students are taught to be more critical in life overall when they have to decide which sources are credible or not when doing internet research. Students can also engage in active learning by using devices to participate in their field and service learning by working with organizations outside of the classroom to solve problems and create new projects. Also many people are seeing the internet as a chance for peer support and communication. This is allowing those students to really depend on each other through social media and the other internet outlets. Also when using the internet/social media for education there is a positive effect with communication and digital literacy between students and teachers.

Students can also use their devices to access learning management systems like Blackboard and Canvas. Students are able to complete their work anywhere as long as they have internet service, which grants them more freedom outside the classroom. Given the recent COVID-19 pandemic and most of the schools being closed applications like Zoom and Microsoft Teams are being used for student to learn and give them that "classroom" feel. There are some cases that students feel that being in the virtual classroom setting being on Zoom is a distraction but others who feel they are able to engage in school more than they would in person

Other apps have been developed that combine learning tasks with elements of social media. Quizlet is a new tool that helps students study in a new way. Quizlet allows users to create flashcard sets that are always available to study. It also takes these card sets and automatically generates practice tests and other activities to help students study, which they can share with other users. There is opposition to learning websites such as Quizlet because some people believe they make it easier for students to cheat, claiming that students can use their phone during the test to look up answers and can pass off other students work as their own. There are apps that you can take a picture of your question and get an answer at the tip of your fingers.

Some researchers are seeing that social media applications such as blogging and online gaming may help kids become creative. There are studies that particularly refer to the convenience that social media offers for the shy students and youngsters who are thus enabled to exchange and express views on this venue.

College institutions are adapting many social media platforms into their educational systems to improve communication with students and the overall quality of student life. It provides colleges with an easy fast method of communication and allows them to give and receive feedback to students. Social media usage has skyrocketed over the past decade as present research shows that almost all college students use some form of social networking website. Conducted studies show that 99% of college students who use social media use Facebook and 35% use Twitter. Facebook and Twitter have become the dominant forms of social media platforms that have successfully grown in popularity. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are widely used by educational institutions to make connecting with students and providing information convenient. Institutions also consider communicating information through the usage of technology a vital part in student success. In many classrooms across America, teachers have created social media pages for their classes on which they can post assignments as well as interact with their students. Schools have felt the need to make regulations for how students and faculty interact online. Many teachers stay away from "friending" of "following" their students online because it can become too personal.

A study in 2015 showed that students and young adults are using newer social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Tumbler, Reddit, and etc more than ever before . They are using these platform not only to be contact with other students but they are using it to keep up with their school and things going. Many schools have adapted to using social media outlets in 2021. Many have their own social media platforms and post things that relevant to the school. There are also many teachers that are using social media channels and video outlets to interact with students. Teachers may post on social media about class activities, school events, homework assignments which is very helpful to those students who may not listen in class. They can also use outlets like Youtube and Zoom to record their classes and lectures a head of time and post them to help dedicate more time in class for other things. The access of social media provides the opportunity for educators to teach good digital citizenship and the use of Internet for productivity. In 2021 technology is expanding and with the world in a global pandemic teaching online and students attending school is making technology even more important. Now teachers are using many different outlet to reach their students Zoom, Slack, Instagram, Google Classroom, Canva, and Canvas making it easier connect and communicate with students.

Use[edit]

Main article: Use of social media in education

The use of social media in education has helped some educators mentor students more effectively.

Rather than compete with, or deny access to social media sites, some schools have embraced them, and are using them to further students' educations.

Parents, students, and teachers are using social media to connect and communicate inside and outside the classroom. Programs like BlackBoard, School loop, Top Hat, and Moodle, Slack, and Canvas have created platforms to enhance the learning experience by increasing communication between all parties. These sites are not necessarily social media websites, but their added communication features such as forums create an experience that is similar to that of social media. Studies have shown that 96% of students have internet access, as well as access to at least one social media site. Teachers are moving away from the no phones at school rule, and are implementing them into their courses to keep students attention in class. Teachers are at risk when using these platforms, Teachers use of social media outside of the classroom is not always protected by the teachers union. Teachers are taking risks when choosing to communicate with students outside of the classroom, especially when they are private conversations through social media. Transparency is the key to communicating with students. Teachers are choosing to use Twitter as a way to talk to their students because it is a social media site where the posts and comments are open to the public.

The reason for the usage of social media has been seen from a study done by Fezilelsik in 2013. It discussed that social media helps faculty to provide good examples and understanding regarding visuals. It has a positive role in providing news updates to students and informs them about course activities. Zehra Mohsin, Falak Jamil, and Bhamani study focused that students usually waste their time when they work on their social media profiles. Hamade in 2013, in a study, provided that social media is positive in providing better linkage in family and friends and helps to be more social in socio-political grounds. With those social media sites come political and historical memes and videos that inform students about the specific topics. Social media is important for students to learn and be part of a community when they are posting about a certain topic or using a hashtag to join a movement.

According to a study done by Lisa Marie Blaschke Weisberger's hypothesis is supported by research by Junco, Heiberger and Loken (2011) and Blaschke, Porto and Kurtz (2010), proved to say that the use of social media can increase learner engagement levels (student-student, student-instructor and student-content) and promote the development of cognitive and meta cognitive learning skills, such as reflection, critical thinking, construction of knowledge and understanding of one's individual leaning process

Reference

How We Use and Are Used by Social Media in Education