Many parents and teachers argue that social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook are harmful to students because students spend so much time on them. However, studies have shown that proper use of Facebook and Twitter in the classroom can facilitate discussion, increase student motivation, and promote engagement in the classroom. These sites provide forums in which students can post comments on discussion topics, ask questions related to the course, and participate in class-related conversations outside of the allotted class time.
Studies have analyzed several areas of concern improved by the use of social networking sites in a classroom curriculum:
1. Classroom participation extends beyond the classroom. While in a normal situation students might leave the classroom and not think of the material discussed until the next class time, required discussions on social networking sites outside of class allow students to contemplate the material while at home. For example, a teacher could require a student to respond to a discussion topic posted on Facebook or Twitter by a specified deadline. This requirement facilitates classroom discussion outside of the class and provides an opportunity for all students to give their input and respond to each other’s thoughts and opinions.
2. Communication between the teacher and the students increases. If a teacher participates in the discussions on Facebook and Twitter, the students and teachers will be able to exchange their ideas more freely and openly. Furthermore, social networking sites can be used to send out notifications and reminders of assignments, deadlines, and what is happening in the class. Additionally, students can post questions to the site and both the teacher and fellow students can respond. This method has proven to be more effective than e-mail or telephone correspondence because there is a faster and more extensive response rate.
3. Social networking site assignments promote critical thinking. When students engage in active discussions with their classmates and teachers about the course material, they foster their own ideas instead of regurgitating information they have memorized. Twitter and Facebook provide ideal environments for these thought-provoking discussions to take place because there is not the chaos or social pressure of a classroom. Some students speak up in class regularly; some do not speak at all. This discrepancy in communication can be explained by a number of factors, including shyness, fear of speaking in front of groups, or lack of interest in the class. These factors are lessened by an online discussion because there is no group to speak in front of—only a computer to type on—and participation in the discussion is mandatory. Therefore, social networking sites are ideal for promoting critical thinking in students because they provide an atmosphere where all students can and must participate, bringing their own thoughts and ideas to the discussion.
Studies have analyzed several areas of concern improved by the use of social networking sites in a classroom curriculum:
1. Classroom participation extends beyond the classroom. While in a normal situation students might leave the classroom and not think of the material discussed until the next class time, required discussions on social networking sites outside of class allow students to contemplate the material while at home. For example, a teacher could require a student to respond to a discussion topic posted on Facebook or Twitter by a specified deadline. This requirement facilitates classroom discussion outside of the class and provides an opportunity for all students to give their input and respond to each other’s thoughts and opinions.
2. Communication between the teacher and the students increases. If a teacher participates in the discussions on Facebook and Twitter, the students and teachers will be able to exchange their ideas more freely and openly. Furthermore, social networking sites can be used to send out notifications and reminders of assignments, deadlines, and what is happening in the class. Additionally, students can post questions to the site and both the teacher and fellow students can respond. This method has proven to be more effective than e-mail or telephone correspondence because there is a faster and more extensive response rate.
3. Social networking site assignments promote critical thinking. When students engage in active discussions with their classmates and teachers about the course material, they foster their own ideas instead of regurgitating information they have memorized. Twitter and Facebook provide ideal environments for these thought-provoking discussions to take place because there is not the chaos or social pressure of a classroom. Some students speak up in class regularly; some do not speak at all. This discrepancy in communication can be explained by a number of factors, including shyness, fear of speaking in front of groups, or lack of interest in the class. These factors are lessened by an online discussion because there is no group to speak in front of—only a computer to type on—and participation in the discussion is mandatory. Therefore, social networking sites are ideal for promoting critical thinking in students because they provide an atmosphere where all students can and must participate, bringing their own thoughts and ideas to the discussion.