Educational institutions constantly look for new ways to enrich their programs and improve students’ accomplishments. The role of media in education has drastically increased during the last decade. There are different types of media such as the Internet, television, radio, and some others. These mass media tools significantly affect the entire education system. The main goal of this paper is to discuss the issue of media as a tool of learning and teaching.
Literature Review
There are different studies conducted on this subject. In an article by Greenhow and Lewin (2016), the authors “argued that social media has the potential to bridge formal and informal learning through participatory digital cultures” (p. 6). Their position is supported by the examples of the effective use of this technique by young students. The authors of another study raised the question of the impact of social media on education (Selwyn & Stirling, 2016). They discuss the use of social media in educational settings and experiences of users. The next research reveals the methods of the application of media for blended learning and e-learning (Gülbahar & Center, 2014). The authors concluded that such approaches enhance the effectiveness of educational programs.
They improve communication and foster collaboration among students. Another study is focused on the usage of social media in sexual health education for teenagers (Scull, Malik, & Kupersmidt, 2014). The authors state that adolescents often consider mass media as the main source of information about sex. The next research discusses the application of media tools in classrooms and the students’ opinions about this approach (Neier & Zayer, 2015). The authors concluded that such methods provide additional motivation for students and change their perceptions of educators and universities. The author of the next study explores negative and positive aspects related to the use of social media as an educational tool (Laird, 2014). The main drawback is the increased connectivity through media applications. However, the main advantage is higher student engagement in learning processes.
Methodology
The major method that will be used in this qualitative research is a grounded theory. In order to conduct critical analysis, the data will be collected from peer-reviewed journals that were issued less than five years ago. Therefore, all reviewed materials will be taken from relevant and credible academic sources.
Expected Results
The study will be focused on the existing methods of the application of social media as an educational tool. Their effectiveness will be discussed and analyzed. This project intends to demonstrate the main advantages and shortcomings associated with the use of social media in different educational programs and settings. The main expectation of this research is that it will reveal that methods involving mass media in educational processes can improve academic performance of students.
Work Plan
This project will be completed in several stages. The first stage is formulating the main purpose of the research. The second stage is literature review that includes collecting relevant data and discussing the key findings. The third stage is data analysis that involves comparison of findings and highlighting research limitations. The final stage is summarizing and conclusion.
Implications of Research
The outcomes of this research will help to understand the main achievements in the application of social media in educational programs and reveal areas that require improvement. The findings will raise other questions for future research in this field. This project intends to contribute to existing practice by increasing awareness and encouraging other educators to design new teaching and learning methods based on the use of social media.
References
Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016). Social media and education: Reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 6-30.
Gülbahar, Y., & Center, D. E. (2014). Current state of usage of social media for education: Case of Turkey. Journal of Social Media Studies, 1(1), 53-69.
Laird, T. (2014). Using social media in education for classroom teaching, student learning, and educator professional development. Web.
Neier, S., & Zayer, L. T. (2015). Students’ perceptions and experiences of social media in higher education. Journal of Marketing Education, 37(3), 133-143.
Scull, T. M., Malik, C. V., & Kupersmidt, J. B. (2014). A media literacy education approach to teaching adolescents comprehensive sexual health education. The Journal of Media Literacy Education, 6(1), 1.
Selwyn, N., & Stirling, E. (2016). Social media and education… now the dust has settled. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 1-5.