Social Networking and Learning

Ongoing research into how social networking influences young people is raising some interesting questions. The ostrich approach to social networking and how it influences our learners is quick to condemn. But the research referred to in this article raises a series of more discerning questions about social networking and participation in learning. It help us as educators make some important distinction between how young people use social networking sites like Facebook and how this might link to their learning.

What insights do you have into why some activities like commenting and viewing photos seem to encourage participation in school life?
What insights do you have as to why other activities such as posting photos and playing games are negatively predictive of such engagement?

Unfortunately, governments and then by extension high school teachers having knee-jerk negative evaluations of social media negates any possibility of examining the academic benefits of such sites. It also shows a great misunderstanding of how social media can be used for both social and educational good.

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/q-and-a-how-facebook-usecorrelates-with-student-outcomes/?partner=rss&emc=rss