Abstract
Social media has become extremely popular among college students. It is estimated that several million students across the globe use these resources for personal interactions on a daily basis. As Web-based technologies are designed to support the social architecture of a community, educators and researchers are exploring the integration of social media in education. As scholars explore these new online communities, it is necessary to examine the use of social media tools by students of color, a segment of the population that has historically experienced inequalities associated with the use of and access to technology. The current literature review reports on (a) the use of social media by students and faculty; (b) the integration of social media in traditional and distance learning environments; and (c) the pros and cons of using social media for academic practice. The published research provides evidence that faculty and students are amenable to using social media tools for teaching and learning and such technologies support active participation, student engagement and increased community skills. While these are benefits to using social media venues for academic practice, critics argue that the medium imposes pedagogical limitations as well as legal and security ramifications.
Recommended Citation
Guy, Retta
(2012)
"THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR ACADEMIC PRACTICE: A REVIEW OF LITERATURE,"
Kentucky Journal of Higher Education Policy and Practice: Vol. 1:
Iss.
2, Article 7.
Available at:
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kjhepp/vol1/iss2/7
Included in
Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Instructional Media Design Commons