Billions of people from all over the world use social media on a daily basis. The present generation of young people considers social networks as an ordinary part of their lives. Therefore, it’s only fair to accept that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms also have an impact on the academic life of the current generation of students. Contacting fellow students and professors, sharing resources, and information is all that essentially makes a basis of social life outside the online world.
Our current article tells the story of the importance of social media in education, and here are some of the best examples.
Communication between Institutions and students
Status updates, events, and all other features that are available thanks to social media allow students to get first-hand news regarding their academic life. In order to find important information students no longer have to leave their home, as they can access information using their laptop or smartphone. Students that follow their school Facebook page can get a notification for any status updates or upcoming events. Furthermore, the comments area and instant messaging systems integrated with almost every social media platform there is, allow both students and institutions to communicate if there is a need for some details.
Resource distribution
It’s not unusual for student groups to create social media groups where each member can participate in a joint effort. Whether the group is working on a new project and resources need to be passed around or some new learning material comes up that would benefit the entire group, social media is making things easier and more effective. The good thing is that there are almost no limits to the amount of data that can be stored online and all the resources are available to members of the group 24/7. Simply put, instead of chasing around with your friends in order to meet or waiting for that email to arrive, students can now log in to their account and access the resources that are uploaded and available.
Marketing
Well-known schools and colleges already have too much media coverage as it is. However, those institutions with a lower budget can use social media platforms in order to advertise their services, programs, admission terms, etc. Sponsored posts are one of the most effective marketing strategies that allow access to a specific target audience which reduces the marketing cost by a great deal. Looking at this feature in a long-term perspective, the amount of money that would go to waste with expensive marketing campaigns could be used to improve infrastructure, provide new equipment for a school or any other way that would improve the academic value of the institution. Additional savings could be achieved if the school hires a professional writing service that would create a compelling promotional content for a lesser fee than required by an overcharging marketing company.
Inspiration for students
Instagram is the most visited photo/video-focused social media platform, according to research. Students that are interested in photography can find inspiration just by browsing through the never-ending gallery of photos available on Instagram. Furthermore, communication features available on Instagram allow students to contact the artist and ask them for tips or pieces of advice that would allow the students to enhance their skills or find a way to deal with an issue that’s keeping them away from finishing a project.
Improving language and literacy skills
Since social media is mainly focused on communication, students have a chance to practice their spelling and writing skills while chatting with their friends or professors. Additionally, the international aspect of social media allows students to practice their foreign language skills by getting in contact with people from different countries. Communication with people from abroad is important not only as a language learning opportunity, but it can also become a milestone to foreign education or potential business opportunity upon the end of the academic period.
Conclusion
The world around us changes all the time. Who could imagine that with the development of online technology our lives will change is such a great measure that even our academic progress could be dependent on our social media activity? What’s important is that everyone, students and teachers alike, should not run away from the benefits that social media brings to education. On the contrary, society should embrace these changes and do our best in order to make the most of it.
Author’s Bio: Lilian Chifley is an IT specialist, teacher, and blogger from Sydney. She loves to talk about artificial intelligence and modern education. You can find Lilian on Facebook and Twitter.