Using Social Media in School

People use social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter for much more than just entertainment and social contact. Businesses use these sites to advertise, celebrities gain fame by allowing their fans to follow them, and various organizations use these sites to keep members informed. Educational institutions are no exception. Both academic and social organizations use Facebook and Twitter to advertise and coordinate campus events; several professors use these sites to keep in touch with students; and many students use social networking sites to work on group projects.

Troy University, like many other colleges, uses social media to advertise on-campus events and to promote student organizations. Troy University has both a Twitter and Facebook page, which is used to inform students of major campus events, and student organizations use social media to keep students informed. Sororities and fraternities actually require their members to have both a Facebook and a Twitter account. Several academic fraternities and honor societies also have Facebook accounts.

Social networking sites often help students to coordinate group projects and to hold discussions about assignments. Students can collaborate by having online conversations and sharing links so that fellow group members can see their research. This is especially helpful when some group members are commuters or have part-time jobs that prevent them for being available to meet in person.

Professors use these social media to keep in touch with students and student organizations that they lead. One positive aspect of contact between students and professors on social networking sites is that this is a quicker and easier way to communicate than email. Students generally check Facebook accounts much more often than they check their student email. However, students may encounter problems when they become friends with professors on Facebook. Students sometimes display behavior on social networking sites which they find acceptable for friends to see but would give off a bad impression to a professor or employer. Students and professors may also experience confusion in how to properly and professionally communicate in such an informal online setting as Facebook.

I was unable to find any existing rules governing social media in the classroom, but following certain guidelines may help to avoid problems. One general rule to avoid problems on social media sites is to avoid posting comments or pictures that you wouldn’t want a teacher or employer to see. Also, when communicating with professors through social media, maintain a level of formality by continuing to use formal titles, as well as correct grammar and punctuation.


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