Journal 3: Social Media in Schools

The Case for Social Media in Schools

The use of social media in schools seems to be an ongoing controversial topic among educators, parents, and students. In the article, “The case for Social Media in Schools,” several valid points are presented for why this is a good idea.

I especially agree with the first point discussed in the article: Social Media is Not Going Away. This is the very reason why I chose this Masters program as opposed to anything else in education. Our world is overrun with technology and our students were born into a society that competes for bragging rights of the latest and greatest developments. This generation of students was born into a rapidly advancing world and they are completely surrounded by technology in their everyday lives. Social media such as facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are essential in the way they communicate. Therefore, instead of trying to deny them of something that is very much a part of who they are, we need to embrace it and find ways to incorporate it in an educational manner.

Another important point made in the article was that Cell Phones Aren’t the Enemy. I also find this to be true, as I have seen it countless times in my own classroom. While modeling direction for a speed lab, I asked students to raise their hands if they had a calculator; only two students raised their hands. Then I asked students to raise their hands if they had a cell phone; I got nearly an entire class with their hand up. As long as students know what the expectation is, they will use their cell phones in the appropriate manner. There are also many applications such as “Remind 101” which can help the teacher maximize student productivity by sending out reminders about class assignments that go directly to students’ phones.

Overall, I thought the article made a good case for the use of social media in the classroom. I think that if it is implemented appropriately, students will become engaged and increase productivity simply because they are enjoying the learning, especially when it does not feel like “work.”