Arguments for using social media

Social media allows learners to collaborate and interact with people they might not otherwise meet. Due to this higher level of interaction and collaboration, often productivity rises. (Walaski) Howard Rheingold points out that social media results in, "greater engagement, greater interest, students taking more control and responsibility for their education." (Blankenship 2011)

Kelm makes an important point about social media. As he puts it, social media is “what students do” now, and fighting it instead of embracing it is a losing battle. As he notes, social media can naturally fit into a classroom to make it more interactive and engaging, and it can bring social constructivism to new heights. It is nearly impossible to achieve social constructivism at this level in the restrictions of a physical world. Plus, according to Pew research, in 2013 78% of US teens had a cell phone, and nearly half of them (47%) had a smart phone. Also, 74% (nearly 3 in 4) teens access the internet using their cell phones. Why would we as educators fight this natural transition?