Impact of Social Media and Web 2.0 in the Classroom

Social media and Web 2.0 have revolutionized the way the world uses the Internet. Social media by itself has the ability to connect people from around the world through its utilization. The ability to use social media is in abundance people can check their Facebook, Twitter and other platforms all with a few mouse clicks or swipes on their phone or tablet. I believe the ease of use of these sites is what has lead to the boom of social media.

This boom is evident in the classroom. Most of today’s students have access to social media with regular ease. Teachers have the ability to use social media to aide students in the classroom. I believe social media should be used to enhance a student’s educational experience but not become the entire means of which instruction is delivered. Therefore, a teacher making entire lessons and units utilizing social media is not out of the norm for today’s classroom. Additionally, teachers can provide extra help to their students via Facebook or Twitter when out of the classroom.

Web 2.0 has the ability to bring a classroom alive. Much like social media, I believe Web 2.0 can greatly enhance the experience students receive in the classroom. Last year, I had the great fortune of letting my students partake in a videoconference with an aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia. In the aquarium was a scuba diver with a cameraman equipped with a microphone. Students had the ability to see fishes and ask questions. Students loved this experience, after studying about the fishes it was great seeing some of them up close and personal through the video conference. Not only did this activity capture the students attention it enhanced the student’s educational experience overall by providing a not so normal way to learn about the creatures of the sea.

The classroom can become a dynamic place for learning when teachers utilize Web 2.0 and social media. I believe students like these sort of activities because they enhance their educational experience as they are partaking in new and exciting ways of learning instead of the typical lecture.