Social Media Is Helping Students Build New Collaborative Skills In The Classroom

Using social media in the classroom can lead to much higher levels of student engagement, new research has found.

“Based on these examples where Australian VET institutions are actively using social media in their teaching, there’s initial evidence that, when used well, it can lead to better engagement and outcomes for students,” said Dr Craig Fowler, Managing Director, NCVER.

“Teachers can and are using Facebook and YouTube to communicate course information and ask questions, and to provide online spaces for students to collaborate on group assignments and demonstrate new skills they have learned.”

While limited to select case studies, Dr Fowler said the research also illustrates how social media has bridged the gap between the classroom and the workplace.

“According to interviewed employers, social media can play a role in smoothing a VET student’s transition between the learning and working environments in demonstrating practice,” he said.

The report points out the importance of developing clear guidelines for both teachers and students around the use of social media, and keeping ahead of social media platforms as they evolve.

“Guidelines for teachers should provide advice around how social media can be used in their courses," added Dr Fowler.

"Students need guidelines that outline how to use social media appropriately in a learning environment, especially in regards to privacy."