Media and Social Networks for College Readiness
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is sponsoring a Michigan State University study to analyze the role of social networks in encouraging higher education for low income students. The study gathers data on high school and middle school students from around the nation to analyze how each student’s access to social media affects their access to higher education. Furthermore, the study hones in on the affect of such media in student relationships. Among these relationships the study examines social capital; in this situation social capital is a social network between students that encourages social cooperation. The goal of the study is to analyze and create effective modes of social networking that encourages students who normally do not prioritize on a college education to do so.
This study creates links between students from across the nation, linking college students with high schoolers, middle schoolers with older students among others. By creating such a universal network that surpasses age and distinction between students, students are able to expand their knowledge circle. This network stems from the idea that most recommendations come from acquaintances rather than close friends. In low income areas where education is not a priority, most people living in that area know similar things and share similar priorities. For this very reason, it helps these disadvantaged students to create a larger social network with people from other parts of the nation, some in college already that can provide encouragement and an explanation as to why a college education is vital. Such a tie, is not a close friend, but instead a weak tie that provides new information that can benefit the student. Furthermore, these links aid in college readiness as well. When a student from a disadvantaged location makes the decision to attend college there is a great deal of mental preparation that is needed. Considering that this student’s close friends may have never attended college, they are not the best people to seek advice from. Instead, weak ties in this student’s social network can provide them with specific insight and advice on how to be prepared. From this situation, we see that a social network has not only encouraged a disadvantaged student to attend college but has also provided him with the necessary tools to be successful in his new environment.
Source: http://news.msu.edu/story/9765/