I appreciate the suggestion to "Do No Harm" via social networking by not making that networking a place for propagating my own views.
utilizing social media is a good thing.
I honestly have never thought of using social media in my teaching. What an idea!
The value of social networking for a students success in learning.
Thus far this course has opened my eyes to the idea of using other media platforms for my online classes. I think Canvas is a great foundation for all online classroom work and needs; however I do see how discussion posts and logs are becoming boring for students and even on my end. It would be very interesting to see how different students respond and interact if they were on a social media platform for some of these assignments. I also like the idea of having a classroom Facebook page like some of the previous comments have mentioned.
I can really say that using rubrics is very important as part of student expectations, "like gives you a benchmark upon which you can determine specific level of mastery."
Responsibly using social media can have a positive impact on student learning.
If social networking tools are used in teaching online, an active presence is needed and should be aligned with the objectives.
I have learned that Integrating social networking into education necessitates clear guidelines to ensure privacy and delineate professional boundaries by fostering a secure and legally compliant learning environment. Moreover, its strategic use should enhance educational outcomes by linking students to global resources and adapting to their evolving needs.
However, it requires careful management to maintain academic standards, be aligned with established learning outcomes and classroom authority, and be assessable while preparing students for the digital landscape they will navigate beyond their studies.
Dr. Lorenzo
I don't use social media in my classes, so this course helped me to realize I could use it and hopefully improve engagement with my online students. There is much to learn. I am not a big social media user, more of an observer, so to increase the use of it in my classes, I need to increase my use of it in more areas than just personal relationship.
Social media can certainly be useful; however, I always have my students look at the facts. Can what was found on social media be backed by research? Or is it more of an opinion piece?
It is so important to engage students and give them true learning experiences, as well as a connection with each other and their instructor. Social Media is such a good way to accomplish this. There is a need to update instructor methods to meet the students where they are - mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Using social media is a great way to connect with students! It allows interaction between students and instructors with the "ridgedness" of an on line platform.
Make sure social networking tools are used to provide the right content for student learning.
Social networking can add exposure to some material and facilitate greater dialogue for a fuller understanding.
Comment on Michelle Moore's post: Hi Michelle - I didn't realize how common it is for students to have created boards like you mention until I asked them directly about their group chats for the class. The amusing thing is they create chats for things that I posted in the LMS - meaning it wasn't necessary to have the group chat. However, the built in presumption (I guess) from previous instructors is the instructor would not share vital information, so they had to figure it out on their own.
I never thought about creating a facebook page for a specific class for students! I can definitely agree, it could help engage students!
Social networking offers several benefits for online courses, enhancing the learning experience in various ways:
Community Building: It fosters a sense of community among students, who might otherwise feel isolated in an online learning environment. Through social networks, students can connect, share ideas, and support each other, which can lead to a more engaging and enjoyable learning experience.
Enhanced Communication: Social networking tools provide efficient and instant communication channels. Students can easily contact peers and instructors, participate in discussions, and receive feedback, making the learning process more dynamic and interactive.
Resource Sharing: These platforms are ideal for sharing educational resources like articles, videos, and tutorials. This can enrich the learning material provided in the course and expose students to a wider range of information and perspectives.
Collaboration Opportunities: Group projects and collaborative tasks are simplified with social networking. Students can work together remotely, share documents, and manage tasks more effectively, which is essential for developing teamwork skills.
Access to Expertise: Social networks often give students access to a broader community of experts and professionals in their field of study. This can lead to mentorship opportunities, industry insights, and a deeper understanding of real-world applications of their studies.
Feedback and Peer Review: They allow for immediate and varied feedback. Students can share their work with peers for review, and participate in peer-to-peer learning, which can be very effective in understanding and retaining information.
Flexibility and Accessibility: Social networking sites are accessible from various devices and locations, offering students the flexibility to engage with course material and their peers at times that suit their schedules.
Increased Engagement: These platforms often feature interactive and multimedia content, which can make learning more engaging compared to traditional text-based online forums or emails.
Personalized Learning: Students can use social networks to find study groups or discussions tailored to their specific interests and learning needs, allowing for a more personalized learning experience.
Professional Networking: For many students, these networks can also serve as a platform for professional networking, which can be beneficial for their career growth and opportunities post-graduation.
While social networking in online courses offers these advantages, it's also important to manage and balance its use to ensure it remains a productive and positive aspect of the learning experience.
This was an excellent review.
Social networking such as blogging can be an effective assignment tool. It can be useful in group projects, journaling or as a research assignment posted for others to view.
