“Social media exposes us to a galaxy of dots, and through education
with can provide students with the tools to begin the connection
process.”
In a recent blog for Social Media Watch, Aran Levasseur made a compelling case for the educational use of social media.
Aran sites a study out of Harvard that shows that students one of the
greatest factors in a student’s success is their ability to participate
in study groups.
This study is consistent with psychologist Lev Vygotsky’s theory of
social constructivism. We learn from and with each other. By design,
social media is one tool that has tremendous potential to enhance
learning.
Through social media, a class can increase opportunities for
interaction with each other. The learning domain transcends the
classroom walls. There are also thousands of opportunities for teachers to network with other teachers and learners online.
Social media also allows teachers to better connect with their students. In a recent piece for The Chronicle of Higher Education,
Theresa Billiot writes about her positive experience using Twitter with
an online class: “For my part, Twitter not only helped me to forge a
stronger connection with my online students, but it also allowed me to
help improve the academic work of all my students, online and on campus,
in a new, interactive way.”
How should schools best use social media? Schools around the
nation are struggling with this question and the answer is certainly
different for each school and each level. Colleges such as Brown
University and Boston University have turned to Google Apps. Many high schools, including Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Calif. have followed suit and “gone Google.” Other schools have turned to Wikispaces and WordPress as platforms for online communities.
The galaxy is big – but when the dots are connected – social media can strengthen and build intimacy within a community.
Check out Fundly’s social fundraising platform, and make us a part of your galaxy today.
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