Tweet, but tweet sweet

Now that we have come to terms with the fact that we cannot really come to terms of what digital pedagogy encompasses we should start to explore the possibilities. In this vast new realm we have dared to enter there are almost as many platforms and tools available than stars in the sky. One of these avenues is social media and can be explored to digitally enhance the learning experience. The flip side of the coin should just always be kept in mind. Social media can be a catalyst for positive change or the start of your own demise.

There are a number of very innovative ways in which social media is used to enhance learning. They can be summarized as follows:

   Connectivity

Twitter, Remind and various other communication channels can be used to form a constructive forum between the learners and the teachers. It can be used to share information on assignments and other relevant material to the specific subject.

            Assessment

Facebook, Instagram and YouTube can be used for feedback on tasks and assignments. Once a task is completed a photo or a video should be taken to capture and convey the activities and objectives of the specific assessment.

             Critical engagement

Blogs can be used to help learners practice their writing skills and their ability to critically engage with a specific topic. It has the added benefit of encouraging learners to critically engage with one another.

That sounds wonderful and in many ways social media is revolutionizing the classroom. If not well thought out and managed however it can do much more harm than good.

The wonderful thing about our constitution is that we have freedom of speech. This freedom allows us to say what needs to be said and is therefore a very good form of accountability. This right however does not include hate speech or any form of discrimination.

A sensitive topic in a classroom might lead to heated debates which might trap learners who are not sensitive to what they say. This could cause serious legal action if comments are indeed deemed to be discriminatory. Once convicted of such an indiscretion it remains with you for the rest of your life. Due to the public nature of social media, a mistake can mean that you do not get a job.

Even though an argument might not end in a court case, it can still cause polarization among different cultures, races or genders. Debates on social media can easily derail due to a simple misunderstanding.

Another threat is social predators that come across as lambs but are indeed wolves. These predators exploit the lack of world knowledge children have to lure them into their claws.

In the spirit of positivity I would like to end this post by highlighting an opportunity within this threat. Educators can use this to educate learners on the dangers involved in any publication and on the correct way to use social media and interact online in a respectful and value adding manner.

Tweet, but tweet sweet.