Social Media in the classroom

The use of technology in class is getting more relevant. There is quite a debate on whether it’s a good or bad thing. But let’s face it... anything good can eventually turn bad or vice versa. Davis explains that teaching children to write and have pen pals can be just as dangerous as sending emails or online chatting. The fact of the matter is, the world is evolving and with this comes consequences... good and bad. Another negative point for technology in the classroom, is the argument that learners will misuse this opportunity to use technology for social reason and not so much academically. This is not entirely the case. Technology use in classroom motivates learners to be active and it makes them willing to work. They still have to focus on the task at hand. Social media should be seen as a tool to use in class.

I would definitely be open to using technology in my classroom or teaching practice, because I believe you have to progress with the times. Technology is continuously being used and learners, nowadays, are much more comfortable with it and find it stimulating and intriguing. Technology allows us to connect with each other immediately, even if we are far apart. Learners can go home and interact with each other on a social network about work they discussed and what they found interesting. One way of incorporating social media is blogging. This is especially helpful with summaries. Learners can summarize their ideas about what they feel they’ve learned and share this with fellow students. I have come to find that when sharing ideas of how you understand a topic, makes it easier for someone else to understand. Different viewpoints are being shared and this deepens their understanding, not only on the topic but maybe also their understanding of the world around them. I specialize in English and Life- Orientation. Life- Orientation is a subject that has no specific right answer. Learners often have an understanding or opinion about topics being handled in class and they can blog about their thoughts. Blogging can also help students with their writing skills, not necessarily in English, but any language they wish to use.

Social media does not always have to be about work, but teachers can also use it to their benefit. The app Remind allows teachers to send out information to the group. This information can be a reminder of due dates for assignments or letting learners know if there’s any changes to the due date and just general news regarding school or subjects.

One problem I do have with social media is that it is not that accessible as we wish it was. Looking at it from a South African perspective, let’s assume every learner in high school has a phone with internet access. The reality is that most of these learners won’t even have airtime to access/ use these apps. That might be a limitation.