Why Use Social Media Technologies in the CTE Classroom?

by Kathy Belcher

Why use social media technologies in the CTE classroom?  As a teacher, I will have to learn what the technologies are and how to use them, integrate them into my existing curriculum, make the case to my principal, add planning time to my already busy teaching schedule, and monitor their use.  What  benefits could there be in extending into the classroom this generation’s way of interacting socially, expressing creatively, collaborating with peers, sharing knowledge, and accessing information in real time?  I will have to do some research to be convinced.

Social media technologies can support active learning, social learning, and student publication, by providing environments and technologies that promote and foster these interactions (Ajjan, et al., citing Ferdig, 2007). Researchers have found that collaborative learning helps students retain information better than students working individually (Ajjan, et al., citing Johnson & Johnson, 1986). As students and teachers come to understand one another better, there is the potential for improved student-teacher relationships and positive experiences in the classroom that likely will lead to a positive learning environment (Teclehaimanot & Hickman, 2011). In fostering such a positive learning environment, teachers who use social media technologies in the classroom encourage individual sharing, promote social interactivity, provide a virtual space where learning begun in the classroom can continue beyond the classroom walls, and inspire lifelong learning (Robbie, et al., 2008).  
Research in the field reveals many positive student learning outcomes using social media technologies, so let’s examine a few technologies we might use in the classroom:
Have students:

·         Create a collaborative website, or wiki (What I know is) to exchange ideas and information on a collaborative project by adding, removing, or editing site content.

·         Create a daily online journal blog (weblogs) to reflect on their progress; read, post comments and respond to each other’s blogs for peer-review; include images and links to web content; and express opinions.

·         Work collaboratively through social file sharing (DropBox, Google Documents, Moodle) creating shared folders and files to retrieve and edit documents in one location. And, create a forum for parents and others to view their work.

·         Meet virtually in one centralized location with numerous people to discuss and work together as a group or team in real-time to achieve a common goal through social collaboration (Skype, Google+Hangout); and continue the collaboration and learning beyond the classroom walls.

·         Create a virtual identity and connect, network and interact with family, friends, classmates and teachers, creating and building relationships critical not only to personal success but also to professional success through social networking (Facebook, Twitter, Google+). And, post homework assignments and deadlines for assignments or tests, or poll the classmates on relevant topics.

·         Sharing videos, photos, and personal publications through social creativity sharing (YouTube, Flickr, Writeboard) to develop as creative and innovative thinkers and leverage social creativity.

There are many good reasons and benefits to students for using social media technologies in the CTE classroom, such as increased active and social learning; improved student-teacher relationships; positive experiences in the classroom; lifelong learning that continues beyond the classroom walls, and perhaps the one I like best is “Social media helps students learn how to collaborate and collaboration skills are viewed by educators as the “quintessential skill” for students in the 21^st century” (Smith, 2010).

References

• Ajjan, H. & Hartshorne, R. (2008).  Investigating faculty decisions to adopt Web 2.0 technologies:  Theory and empirical tests.  Internet and Higher Education, (11), pp. 71-80.  doi: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2008.05.002.
• Robbie, D., & Zeeng, L. (2008).  Engaging student social networks to motivate learning:  Capturing, analyzing and critiquing the visual image.  The International Journal of Learning, 15(3), 153-160. 
• Smith, N. (2010, May 4).  Teachers embracing social media in the classroom.  TechNewsDaily.  Retrieved from http://www.technewsdaily.com/421-teachers-embracing-social-media-in-the-classroom.html
• Teclehaimanot. B., & Hickman, T. (2011).  Student-teacher interactions on Facebook:  What students find appropriate.  TechTrends, 55(3), pp. 19-30.