social-media-faculty

Infographic: Impact of social media in education


College students love social media, but can also find it to be a distraction in the classroom

social-media-studentsSocial media has many uses in education.

It can be used for recruitment, attracting students to a specific campus through Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Youtube. It can be used for safety, serving as network of warnings and alerts during emergencies. It can be used simply to better communicate with the student body.

But for all of social media’s benefits, some professors are still wary of the medium. According to the results of a survey of 8,000 faculty members conducted by Babson Survey Research Group and Pearson, more than half of faculty use social media in a professional context, a ten percent jump from last year’s 45 percent. Slightly more than 70 percent use social media for personal purposes.

At the same time, only four out of 10 faculty members reported using social media in the classroom.

Nearly 60 percent of the respondents said that online and mobile technologies create a better learning environment, but more than half of faculty said they think the technologies are more distracting than helpful for academic use. There is evidence to support those concerns.

And a new infographic, released by Edynco, claims that many students feel the same way.

(Next page: Four reasons why students have a love-hate relationship with social media in the classroom as well)

1. They feel more comfortable

According to the infographic, students feel more at ease asking questions and expressing doubts when they’re online rather than in a crowded classroom or lecture hall.

2. They can collaborate easily with more than just classmates

They can share their ideas about the class and what they’re learning to anyone who will listen. Using hashtags, they can involve themselves in national and international conversations.

Some students even participate in social media-driven book clubs, discussing novels with students from many different institutions.

3. They can be easily distracted

Two-thirds of students report that they use electronic media while in class, studying, or doing homework.

4. They feel their productivity slipping

Out of 102 students, the infographic states, 57 percent reported that social media has made them less productive due to distractions and procrastination.

(Next page: Check out an infographic that explores the effect of social media in education)

For a larger view, click here.

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