Social Media in Education

Social media has become an integral part of the lives of people today. In the article, How We Use and Are Used by Social Media in Education, Burbules (2016) aimed to demonstrate the reciprocal connection between how social media shapes reading and writing and how the reading and writing shapes social relationships. “We work with, and rework, the tools that we have, we often use them creatively against or beyond their intended uses, and we are at the same time changed by them” (Burbules, 2016, p.2). Society isn’t doing anything new with reading and writing; however, the biggest change is how technology has impacted the amount of people it reaches and the frequency in which it is viewed (Burbules, 2016).

            There are many different social media platforms, many of which have different functions such as Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia and Facebook. These functions can be perceived as good and bad. Burbules (2016) asserted that social media can build community, improve engagement and encourage peer to peer communication. However, the oversimplification and lack of context of platforms like Twitter which only allows 140 characters can lead to harsh and judgmental responses without consequences. Social media gives voice to society. However, some platforms give anonymity to users which also leads to negative and hurtful open commentary. Burbules (2016) also noted the quality of one’s work suffers as those who have the most likes or better branding could possibly receive notoriety.

“Our students have changed radically. Today’s students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach” (Prensky, 2001, p.1). Prensky (2001) attributed this change to digital technology and asserted that today’s students think and process information fundamentally differently from their predecessors. With that in mind, should social media be used in education? The benefits of social media at the collegiate level is clear as it allows for greater collaboration and connectiveness, especially in the online learning environment. I am currently an online student and have been encouraged to use social media in the aforementioned manner. I am a “digital immigrant” and I am not comfortable with using social media to build superficial relationships and have not experienced any value added to my online education experience as a result (Prensky, 2001). However, many students benefit from using social media for collaboration. It is my belief that social media has no place in elementary and middle school classroom. Our job as educators is to provide a safe place for students to learn and thrive. As a result of anonymity, the inability to protect students from those who might ridicule, disrespect, or bully diminishes a student’s desire to take educational risks. Social media can impact the educational community in positive and negative ways.

          Burbules (2016) asserted that we aren’t just using tools but are being changed by them (p. 11).  The believer must consider how social media is impacting God’s Kingdom. Social media is a wonderful tool for branding the church, sharing church events to the masses and advancing God’s words. Social media has changed society and the church should be proactive to ensure that God’s Kingdom is protected from the wickedness that enters the eyes and ears of the believers through digital technology.

References

Burbules, Nicholas. How We Use and Are Used by Social Media in Education (2016).

Educational Theory, 66(4), 551–565. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12188

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, Digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9 (5), 1-6. Retrieved from http://marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf