How Social Media Has Impacted Education - Research Paper Example

How Social Media Has Impacted Education College: How Social Media Has Impacted Education In an era of digital technology, the social media channels have dominated the public arena, extending its impacts on education. As research proves, social media has become an unavoidable tool that has both negative and positive impact, not only on the public but also on the education. While the online social media has been criticized for wasting the time of most students, it is clear that social media has facilitated change in the teaching strategies, education systems and the academic awareness. Proper use of social media can be used to facilitate education and improve learning in the education. As Blankenship (2011) points out, the evolution of social media has led to the development of more effective education systems in the contemporary learning environment. On this note, social media has had a cumulative positive impact on the education sector. The history of social media and its impact on education is long. In the traditional learning environment, the only social media that was common is the television, a technology that was only limited to only a few in the society. The access to social media was limited and there was little connection between education and social media. However, it is clear that the broadcasting media created awareness in the society and encouraged the society to take a keener interest on education. The media popularized education especially among the communities that had neglected education. This role of the media has become critical even in the contemporary society as the broadcasting media give a greater focus on education forums and contribute to the streamlining of education. Today, the social media channels have become many, including the online social sites that have attracted more people in the world. In the emergence of the internet technology, online social media channels such as Facebook, Skype, Twitter and Linked In have become common in the world (Patrut, 2013). Moreover, access to social media has become much easier and cheaper. On this note, the social media has become an important tool to influence education and the learners. In the recent past, the broadcasting media has enlightened the society on the significance of education. Broadcasting stations provide crucial information to the society and encourage them to take their young ones to school as part of the parental role in shaping the future of their children. Lack of awareness of importance of education has undermined the education development in the society. As the media disseminates information regarding education, the society is more conscious of the need for education. In addition, the media becomes a channel for the government to communicate to the public on their strategies for education and the changes in the education policies. As the public has a better access to social media services, they become more assertive to issues concerning the education sector. Moreover, new educational programs have emerged in the social media that facilitate education. Some television channels focus on education, curriculum and academic development. Some provide lessons for all subjects and help learners to conduct their revision and tutorials in a more efficient manner. As the education content continues to be covered by educational channels, it is expected that the students will have beyond the classroom tuition that will help in pushing education to the next higher level (Holmes, 2012). In brief, the media has promoted education assertiveness and contributed directly to curriculum delivery. Another critical role of the social media is contributing to the curriculum formation in their respective countries. The social media has been on the frontline in the war against retrogressive education forums and policies. The social medial critics the curriculum and pushes for changes to allow positive reform of education. The changes in the world today demand flexible education systems that match the demand of the employment sector. The social media takes the opinions of the public to recommend changes in the education sector. The government reacts on the social media concern to model the curriculum to match the international standards of education. The social media has particularly been involved in promoting the integration of the technology in education curriculum (Zailskaite-Jakste & Kuvykaite, 2012). This war has led to the increased investment in computer technology in the education sector. Computer technology has become a necessity in the work place as organizations invest in technology to inject efficiency in their operations. The war launched by the social media has resulted to the formation of better education curriculums leading to development of the education systems (Kitsantas & Dabbagh, 2009). Actually, the media efforts to push the government and education bodies to change their curriculums have benefited the students, giving them an opportunity to compete in the international media. Inducing efficiency in the education sector is a role that gives merit to social media as a channel for education reform. The online social media has become double edged instrument for education reform. In the advent of the internet technology, the social media technology has become more common. The social networks such as Facebook, twitter, Skype and WhatsApp are available to every person who has internet (Haley & Parise, 2014). With the proliferation of mobile and computer technology, and cheap internet services, the youths have better access to the social media and can spend more time on these services. These social sites attract millions of youths who prefer to spend their leisure time in there. Most teachers have criticized the social media as the reason why students are wasting their time in entertainment rather than dedicating it to their personal educational improvement. However, these sites can help students share their classroom experiences and develop new strategies to work out solutions to academic challenges. For instance, it is possible for them to share class notes, quizzes and even provide answer for difficult problems. It is indisputable that social media is abused by the learners leading to academic negligence. If the social media is properly utilized, it is possible to inject academic efficiency in the learning environment. On this note, the teachers have a duty to guide students on the use of social media to facilitate learning. For instance, the teachers should encourage student to open Facebook pages where they can share their education experiences and share their opinions on the education problems. On this note, if properly used, the social media can be used inject efficiency in the education environment. The online technology has brought about positive changes in the education sector. For instance, Skype provides a video conferencing option that lecturers utilize too deliver their tuitions from their remote location. Blankenship (2011) shares an experience when he had to lecture students from a distance providing a cheaper means of reaching the students. In a video lesson, the students have a visual contact with the teachers and have the freedom to listen and ask any question. This technology has helped in reducing the inefficiency in the education sector that results from insufficiency of instructors. A lecturer from one university can give lectures to students in several universities without having to change his physical location. Also, this technology has led to the increase in online learning curriculums where students subscribe to curriculums from their remote locations and work learn through online classes (Powers, Averbeck, Alhussain & Warner, 2012). This has helped to beat the physical distance and promote long distance learning that is as efficient as the classroom lectures. In addition, the social media has provided an opportunity for teachers to share their teaching experience and to design better teaching methods. Instead of attending seminars, it is possible for teachers to hold webinars on the online platform where they can share their ideas and discuss the best learning methods. On this note, the social media has become a platform to fight the limitation of distance in the academic environment. In conclusion, the social media has impacted positively on education. The broadcasting media has created awareness and pushed for educational reforms. This has helped in streamlining the curriculum and increasing assertiveness among the public in the community. The online social media has formed an avenue where instructors and students can form academic networks that seek to increase educational sharing and exchange of constructive ideas. However, the learners must be guided on the use of social media in enhancing their learning abilities. Moreover, the social media has allowed tutors to use video conferencing facilities to provide long distance learning and to beat the limitations of physical distance in the academic environment. Social media such as Facebook are potential avenues where teachers can form networks to discuss their academic experiences and share the best methods of education. Notably, the social media has resulted to positive reforms in the academic environment and its negative impacts can be controlled. References Blankenship, M. (2011). How Social Media Can and Should Impact Higher Education. Education Digest: Essential Readings Condensed For Quick Review, 76(7), 39-42. Holmes, K. (2012). Media Impact on Girls in the US, China and India through a Gendered Filter. Forum On Public Policy Online, 2012(1), Haley, G. R., & Parise, P. A. (2014). Pedagogical Capital and the Relationship Between Social Networking and Quality of Academic Life in Distance Programs. Academy Of Business Research Journal, 127-43. Kitsantas, A., & Dabbagh, N. (2009). Learning to learn with integrative learning technologies (ILT): A practical guide for academic success. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub. Patrut, M. (2013). Social media in higher education: Teaching in Web 2.0. Hershey PA: Information Science Reference. Powers, L., Averbeck, C., Alhussain, R., & Warner, A. (2012). Perspectives On Distance Education and Social Media. Quarterly Review Of Distance Education, 13(4), 241-245. Zailskaite-Jakste, L., & Kuvykaite, R. (2012). Implementation of Communication in Social Media by Promoting Studies at Higher Education Institutions. Engineering Economics, 23(2), 174-188. doi:org/10.5755/j01.ee.23.2.1550 Read More