Social media was originally created as a networking tool for students but has grown significantly with some arguing it has addictive qualities, though others believe it can be used beneficially in academic settings by promoting engagement, collaboration, and preparing students for a digital world where social media knowledge is valuable. The debate continues on whether social media is a distraction or benefit to student learning.

1. Social Media & Education
A Distraction or a Benefit?
Presentation by: Jamie Anne Vaughan
@jamie_vaughan
Image by: SaMtRoNiKa - Flickr

2. Facebook was originally created as a networking tool
specifically for students of Harvard University in 2004.
Image by: juanpg - Flickr

3. Since then, it has
opened its
membership up
to everyone
worldwide and
boasts over 600
million users.
Image by: FotoRita - Flickr

4. Social media has
grown to become a
staple in people’s
everyday lives -
some claiming they
cannot go a day, or
even mere hours,
without checking
their profiles.
Image by: Xraijs_ - Flickr

5. Image
...and their
Some believe use is
Facebook and becoming
other social somewhat
media sites of an
posses epidemic
addictive among
qualities... university
students.

6. A global media study done by “the world UNPLUGGED”,
Image by: vaXzine - Flickr
asked students from 10 countries to go 24 hours
without media.

7. Image by: Emilie Ogez - Flickr
Surprisingly, the results were conclusive of social media
being addictive - many students could not go 24 hours
without media, while others reported symptoms of
addiction.
Source: the world UNPLUGGED in partnership with International Center for Media & the Public Affairs (ICMPA) survey of 24 hours without media.

8. With these results, is there any room for good uses of
social media in universities or classrooms?
Image by: clevercupcakes - Flickr

9. Image by: KEXINO - Flickr
Created to support networking...
...sites, like Facebook and Twitter, are fantastic
tools for keeping in touch with family and
friends while away at school.

10. Image by: EngComm - Flickr
But what about in an academic environment? Can social
media, and more specifically Facebook, be
beneficial to learning?

11. Some students believe it is not possible - stating that it
becomes a distraction.
Image by: teddy-rised - Flickr

12. Image by: tyfn - Flickr
As well, they believe
that requiring students
to join Facebook
creates a
privacy issue.
Source: Michael Wong - Facebook & Education - http://ctlt.ubc.ca/2009/01/30/facebook-and-education/

13. However, others feel that Facebook can be extremely
beneficial to students and learning.
Image by: ZeRo’SKiLL - Flickr

14. Image by: tronathan - Flickr
It can be used
to promote
engagement
and
collaboration
- through
discussion
groups.

15. Image by: Sixth Lie - Flickr
Using social media in class gives students who are shy the
opportunity to state their opinions - and, depending
on the class, earn participation marks.
Source: Gabriel Tripp - Speaking Up in Class, Silently, Using Social Media - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/13/education/13social.html?_r=4&smid=tw-nytimes&seid=auto

16. Image by: European Parliment - Flickr
Teachers, and
professors, know
that students are
already utilizing
social media.
So why not
communicate to
students through
something they
are already
familiar with?

17. Image by: marcovdz - Flickr
Students are using social media and Facebook to raise
awareness about events and groups - both on and off
campus.

18. Queen’s University students create Facebook pages for the
incoming class of students and use the page as a place for
new students to ask questions, and meet other students.
Image by: Images History - Flickr

19. Image by: Chad Podoski - Flickr
Another positive point for the use of social media in
the classroom is the knowledge that the technology is here
to stay.

20. Image by: fensterbme - Flickr
As well, many large companies are turning to social media
for promotion and advertising, and are looking to hire
students that have an extensive knowledge of the
platforms.

21. By introducing students to blogs, wikis, RSS feeds,
etc. at an early age, educators are able to better
prepare their students.
Image by: Sylvain_LaTouche

22. As social media continues to grow in popularity and
usefulness, is it unreasonable to think that social media
will become a staple in education?
Image by: William & Mary Law Library - Flickr

23. What are your thoughts?
Could social media become a
very useful tool in the
classroom or lecture hall?
Image by: JStove - Flickr

24. All Images are Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs
Licensed through Creative Commons.
Image by: Graham Ballantyne