Social media can improve student’s learning experience (Editorial)
Social media can be used as a learning tool that students would actually enjoy using.
More social media site are constantly appearing on our screens. Whether we like it or not, some of these sites become more important to us than we may realize. They provide a form of communication and an easy way to access information.
Yet this isn’t available in CHS, as the WiFi blocks all forms of social media.
Schoology was created as a way for communication between students and teachers. Set up like a social media site, the idea was that students would use it both in and outside of class. In reality, however, students don’t check Schoology unless a teacher tells them to either complete or turn in an assignment.
Social media if allowed in school could be the website that connects students to staff. Twitter is the third most popular media site, behind Facebook and Youtube. Students use sites like Twitter daily. Teachers could use the site to post upcoming assignments and remind students about approaching due dates.
As more and more classrooms go “paperless,” technology naturally becomes more crucial. Jim Asher, principle of Jackson P. Burley Middle School in Charlottesville, VA, successfully integrated social media into his school.
“To be honest, social media is becoming a fundamental part of our entire district,” Asher writes to eduTopia, an online community dedicated to educating teachers on the best teaching strategies. “When I started at Burley four years ago, the school had a Twitter account for informational purposes, and few teachers had accounts. I started a Blackboard account for faculty and staff, and began using that for weekly communications, faculty meetings, staff professional development, and more.”
Social media keeps students updated on news and events. There are more advantages in allowing access to these social websites than there are disadvantages. Future generation’s lives will be even more centered on technology. If we base our lives outside of school on these sites, wouldn’t it make sense to integrate them and use them to improve learning in school?
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2016-2017 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.
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Kenny Brenizer is a junior and the perspectives editor for the 2016-2017 Periscope staff. She does no sports. She has no hobbies. She just wants cats and...
Jessica Burley • Oct 26, 2016 at 11:28 am
Some teachers do post on twitter what the homework is. I think that social media should not be used for learning. I think that teachers should tell us all we need to know in the classroom before we leave. Schoology is nice for that but I like writing my homework down in my planner. If it is not written down there then I forget to do it.