Can Social Media Be Used in the Classroom?

By now we are all very well aware of how social media usage has completely gripped the entire world. Regardless of your age, gender, geographic location, or occupation, chances are that most people have at least one social media profile. Of course, social media usage is much more prevalent in younger generations compared to older generations for obvious reasons. However, what would surprise many people is the fact that Israel is actually ahead of many developed countries like America or Germany in regards to their social media usage. In addition, around ninety four percent of Israeli internet users are using at least one social media network.

With these statistics in mind, there can be no question about how prevalent social media usage is in Israel today. Social media has both its critics and its supporters, and like anything else in life, if it is used in moderation it can become a great convenience for people by allowing them to connect with other people in a very cost-effective and timely manner. On the other hand, if social media is used too regularly it may slowly become an addiction and control our lives as we constantly check the latest social media statuses and stories every few minutes on our phone. There has to be a line drawn, in regards to our social media usage, to ensure we are not using social media to our own detriment. If used compulsively, social media can destroy our real-life relationships and can eventually lead to isolation and depression. A healthy balance must be made to ensure both our own sanity and the sanity of our friends and family.

With the perils of compulsive social media usage becoming very well-known, it is important we also consider alternative and efficient ways to use social media, that will not only help us but also not hold us back in our day to day lives. One new way we can use social media is in the classroom and the structures learning environment. For example, teachers and professors can use social media platforms to provide their students with updates and advice on their assignments during after school hours. Teaching faculty can also use social media to answer students questions about homework or coursework after the school is closed. Another interesting use of social media is streaming lectures and classes live on Facebook or Twitter to help students who are unable to attend class. This will allow students who have missed their class to catch up on the missed lesson or allow students to review a previous lecture to ensure they didn’t miss anything important during the lecture. Teachers can even host private Facebook groups for each course they teach to provide their students with a new method of contacting them. Regardless of whether the students are focusing on their Israeli final exams, or their American LSAT exams, or their JC economics tuition, social media is a powerful tool that can be harnessed by teachers around the world to assist their students in passing all of their courses and exams.

In conclusion, there are very many benefits to using social media today in the classroom, but we must also remember the negative aspects of social media too if it becomes an addiction. Everything used in moderation is fine, but we must remember to use social media moderately and effectively. Social media’s usage in the classroom has just begun, and we are yet to realize its full use in our school systems.