Social Networks in Education
http://csic.georgetown.edu/magazine/social-media-reshaping-todays-education-system/
When university professors think about social media, they might criticize how immersed students are in their phones instead of paying attention in class or paying attention to each other. However, it is just as important to focus on the positive impact social networks have on educational systems. For example, students don’ just use social media entertainment or personal interaction; rather, students use social media as a way of sharing and discovering new information. This can mean anything from building a social community, collaborating with new people, or searching for opportunities such as internships. Furthermore, learning management systems such as Blackboard and Canvas are examples of how elements of social media are being implemented into classrooms to make teaching more efficient and accessible. More aptly put, “We live in a digital ecosystem, and it is vital that educational institutions adapt.” The more involved social media becomes in the educational process, the stronger the network of all those involved.
This article makes many points that are related to our discussion of social networks. For example, when the article mentions how social media and educational networks provide their students with new information, resources, and contacts, I thought of Granvonetter’s “The Strength of Weak Ties.” We discussed that local bridges are essential in the connectivity of a graph and to the accessibility of novel information. In Granvonetter’s case, he examined the impact of bridges through how people attained their jobs. This appears to be the case with students using social networks, where students attain access to new educational resources that may lead them to a job/internship.