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How Teachers Are Using Social Media To Boost Virtual Learning?

21st June 2021

In the contemporary 21st century educational world, social media is being considered as a learning platform that supports cultivating student engagement and competencies. In Malaysia, the social distancing guidelines are being practiced and implemented in home-based teaching and learning across the country. Just like other parts of the world, Malaysian educators also had to familiarize themselves with a new mode of online or virtual teaching. They had to look for more inventive customs to involve their learners.

As 2020 saw the growth of the ‘micro-learning’ movement, #TikTokGuru hashtag with over 4.5 billion views saw a huge growth in learning and soon it became one of the top hashtags in Malaysia of 2020. As a result, around 10,000 #TikTokGuru videos were formed by teachers who wanted to make learning fun and enjoyable.

How teachers can comprise social media to improve learning?

There are numerous ways to use social media for education because we are living in the world of digitalization to make nearly anything easier.

Following are some of the aids of social media to expand the academic performance of learners:

Communication

As e-learning removed geographical difficulties. Social media enhances communication. Learners can easily connect with anyone at any point in time. They may use several platforms via their smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer and can make phone calls or video calls as well.

Learners don’t need to wait and meet the teacher physically with social media. It also promotes better learning by providing support. Additionally, teachers may even connect with their class via Facebook live too. Through social media, educators can improve interactions between apprentices, between students and teachers, and also with people and resources outside the classroom.

Boost Interest

The attention span of students has always been an issue for teachers. Nowadays, the younger generation is interested in reels, TikTok, and so on because of its fast-paced and short-form of videos. Teachers can use these platforms effectively as these attract apprentices’ attention quickly and keeps them engaged.

Malaysian teachers are using these platforms for educational purposes as these are allowing them to be more flexible in schooling and cater content to a wider audience. They started recognising the potential of social media platforms as learning tools.

Distance Learning Prospects

One more great benefit of social media in education is distance learning chances. This is also helpful for learners who are not able to obtain formal education by attending regular classes. Through social media, contemporary instructors are able to attract schoolchildren through distance learning programs as well.

More Scopes For Education

Teachers can use a Facebook page to broadcast updates and alerts as these are still accessible when signed out. The privacy of the page depends on the moderator. Educators can also create various Facebook Groups, both public or private. They may stream Facebook Live lectures, post discussion questions, allocate homework, make class announcements, and so on.

On the other hand, Twitter can be great as a discussion board or message board. The 280-character limit feature makes learners think critically about communicating tersely and effectively. It is a beneficial skill that needs to develop. Tutors can also create discussions and chats surrounding a precise hashtag. Instagram may also be used for photo essays. This allows apprentices to practice digital storytelling.

Moreover, there are numerous different platforms, such as WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, Blogger, Tumblr, or Medium, where teachers can create a class blog. This provides students another platform for digital content. Creating a class-specific Pinterest board is also another way to use social media in education. It acts as a great resource, lesson plan, and worksheet as well.

Wrapping it Up

Are you ready to try these interesting ways of using social media for education? Indeed, it’s time to embrace the positive effects of social media as it has a great potential to play an important role in quality education. Nevertheless, at the same time, parents as well as teachers must note that high security must be sustained in case a minor is using any social media platforms.