If you can't beat them, join them

There are no two ways about it; social media is inevitable and completely unavoidable. Therefore, rather than fighting to keep social media out of both the classroom and the lives of learners, let us adopt the motto:

“If you can’t beat them, join them”

I believe that instead of fighting a losing battle to keep social media away, why do educators not rather embrace social media for what it is and use it to enhance the schooling experience of their learners. It also provides educators the opportunity to teach learners how to effectively use social media, and how to manage their accounts. This will allow learners to be guided through social media so that they do not misuse it and get into troublesome situations later on in life when applying for bursaries and jobs (Davis, 2014). On a personal note, Facebook memories have made me wish I had had some guidance when I was thirteen posting cringe-worthy statuses on Facebook.

There are many ways of incorporating social media into the classroom to the benefit of both the learner and the teacher. Twitter can be used to remind learners about homework and to answer questions they may have after school hours. As Twitter is open, all the other students can see questions and answers from other peers that will eliminate the educator being asked the same question many times. Blogging as a good way of handing in essays, as not only will it teach learners about writing online, but it will also encourage them to put a little more effort in as not only the teacher can see their work. There are many apps and websites focussing on social media and the internet, allowing the internet to be a safe place to connect learners and educators from around the world.

Social media can knock through the boundaries of typical schooling, by providing a means of communication at any time from any location (Provenzano, 2015). If used correctly it could make education and learning extend longer than the school day. Social media makes learning fun, engaging and freely accessible.

I truly believe that social media can transcend the limits set by stringent schooling, and create a platform for learning that will empower pupils to learn, not force them to.