Social networks in education, yes or no?

The digital world has revolutionized society's way of life and has also changed the planning and interaction of the educational environment. Today, it is clear that social networks in education have become a fundamental tool to promote a new learning model among students. Many educators defend the use of social networks; however, others are skeptical and reluctant to use them in the classroom. Therefore, in this week's post I would like to talk about the pros and cons of social networks in education, and give my opinion on the subject.

Advantages

A few years ago, it was almost unimaginable for a student to collaborate with another student living on the other side of the world. Today, students from different schools can share knowledge, exchange projects and work as a team. This is the concept of the social network itself: to promote the socialization of users.

Among the advantages of social networks are the following:

• Encourage participation. A student who hardly participates in class may feel more comfortable doing so via the Internet, which in turn helps to build his or her confidence. In addition, social networks can be used for teamwork, as well as for more efficient communication between families, teachers and the educational institution itself.

• Finding resources. The web is an infinite library of resources in which social networks also play a role. It is remarkable the amount of information available on platforms such as YouTube, which has revolutionized the idea of tutorials, courses, or web channels, where you can learn from a piano melody to solving equations. In addition, these resources are constantly updated, making them perfect for dealing with current topics.

• Skills development. The skill set required by 21st century learners has changed (in fact it is constantly evolving) and social networks play a key role in helping learners develop them. It is not only a place for learning, but also a space for creativity, collaboration or communication.

• Technological skills. Today's younger generations are digital natives but that doesn't always translate into them having the right technological skills. Using social networks in the classroom will help them realize their professional and educational usefulness beyond the realm of leisure and entertainment.

• Accessibility and low cost. Many of these resources are available for free with only the requirement of an Internet connection.

Disadvantages

As you have seen, there are many benefits of using social networks in the classroom, but we must always keep in mind their possible negative effects:

• Difficulty in using other resources. For some students it becomes so natural to search for information on social networks that solving traditional queries becomes more complicated for them.

• Distraction. Using a particular social network for a class question can lead to browsing other types of websites, which in turn leads to distraction.

• Bad practices. Users are exposed to bad practices if appropriate precautions are not taken, such as grooming and cyberbullying.

• Dependence. The speed with which information circulates on social networks can generate a habit of immediacy in responses and in the exchange of opinions and information that sometimes leads to dependence.

• Paradoxically to the first advantage exposed, sometimes students prefer to interact on social networks to clarify doubts in the study instead of physically in the classroom, which affects interpersonal communication.

Having said that, is it then appropriate to make use of social networks in the educational environment?

In my opinion, it is necessary to use active methodologies and to propose "real" proposals that are meaningful for students. In this sense, it is important to empower students and try to make creative use of the tools they use the most, such as social networks. However, as teachers it is essential to know how to work properly with social networks in class, otherwise they can become a double-edged sword. To do this, I advise you to follow the following steps: first, choose a topic that can work well; second, choose the right tools, as each platform is different and its features may be more or less suited to your goal, so it is key to be familiar with each of the platforms to be used. Thirdly, make the choice collaborative, as both are key to learner buy-in, enthusiasm and engagement. Fourth, participate: create an account and join the discussion as one too. Or if it's a video, make a cameo, a brief appearance, in your students' videos. In short, be part of the networking world along with your students. Finally, provide alternatives so that those students who do not have parental permission to use social networks are not excluded. They can act as extras or collaborators without needing access to a social media account, or they can create social media content offline.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Osborne, Charlie (2012). “The pros and cons of social media classrooms.” <https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-pros-and-cons-of-social-media-classrooms/>

UNIR. (2020) “El uso de las redes sociales en Educación: consideraciones para sacarle el máximo partido.” <https://www.unir.net/educacion/revista/redes-sociales-educacion/>.