How Schools Can Take Advantage Of Social Media

Now that social media appears to be here to stay, more and more young people are going online and taking part.

Today’s youth love social media because of it’s rapid pace and ever changing quality. It also appeals to a person’s vanity. Anyone can have a Facebook page and post the intimate details of their lives for anyone to see. Or, they can send a Tweet about their most mundane experiences throughout the day. They actually think that people care about such minutiae. Despite all this, it’s worthwhile to keep up with social media so that you know what your kids are doing.

Not all communities are embracing social media. Some even feel it’s harmful to children. For example, in the UK nearly 60% of schools have banned Facebook even though it’s mainly used off campus. School officials feel that it’s a unnecessary distraction and can expose children to dangers on the internet. These are valid concerns but often we are more attracted to things that are off-limits to us.

Maybe a better idea is to allow the use of social media in a supervised way. It seems that social media, in whatever form, is here to stay. People love the immediacy of it and it appeals to their vanity. They like thinking that everyone cares about their every thought or action, so they post in on Twitter or their Facebook account. So, why fight the tide? Some schools are embracing this attitude.

They’re doing it in Portland, Oregon. At a school there, a teacher piloted a successful social-media program in the classroom. During the study, there was a dramatic increase in students performing assignments that received no official credits. Absences declined and there was a noticeable increase in student motivation.

That school has gone on to develop blogs and networks where children can interact with one another and complete assignments. It also makes it easier for teachers and parents to monitor a student’s progress.

Additionally, school administrators learned that the students were far more aware of the potential dangers that exist online and how to cope with them.

The internet is a tool with enormous potential to help students learn in ways like never before. If we simply think of social media in that way we can harness it for good.

Besides social media, this author also frequently shares knowledge regarding cat door and wood closet shelves.