What is the pedagogic impact of social networking sites?
Within the public realm of digital online communities, there is growing concern toward the proliferation and utilization of social networking sites (SNS) within the field of education. Results from a recent study, conducted by Schellens, Valcke, & Vanderhoven (2013), reveals underlying risks and potential security issues associated with SNS communities within the context of privacy and attitudinal behavior toward the need for protective measures.
Research findings from this study show that young adults tend to care very little about personal privacy. This often leads
to unsafe behavior in terms of the type and amount of information being shared online. Posting of personal or revealing content has also been proven to be directly related with the impulsive and youthful desire to establish a sense of social identity and egoistic individualism via public SNS posts. This imprudent, cavalier-like attitude toward personal privacy has become a prevailing subject topic within the public domain where countless individuals have become victims of their own expressive and extroverted ways.
One prime example for concern revolves around the growing issue of online Cyber-bullying. Teenagers are learning about the pitfalls associated with sharing personal information online within SNS settings. With very little to no supervision and accountability, young adults find themselves the target of many callous individuals who utilize this social networking tool as a psychological weapon to prey on the uninitiated. Personal information can instantly be made public knowledge with just a few clicks of the mouse. Because of the wide acceptance of social networking within the young adult community, there is a lot of attention from the legal community who seek justice for those who are preyed upon by social predators.
On a more positive note, the advent of educational SNS portals such as My Big Campus, delivers a greater sense of social oversight from an administrative standpoint that can assist in reducing legitimate concerns for privacy and security. Given that SNS portals such as My Big Campus cater specifically to the educational community at large, there is a golden opportunity for educational staff and administrators to raise and instill a greater sense of awareness and importance of privacy and security within the academic online setting. Students can feel more secure and at ease knowing that there is a greater level of authority within their educational environment (Schellens,Valcke, & Vanderhoven, 2013).
With educational-based SNS sites like My Big Campus, educators are able to efficiently and effectively deliver information content and comprehensive multimedia assignments. This new didactic approach helps to build student interest and team building morale by creating collaborative online sessions where students can engage in an assignment in a variety of different ways. Through the use of the My Big Campus portal and iOS mobile app, students can access school projects and assignments via desktop and mobile devices, allowing them more flexibility and freedom to learn organically without the constrictions of a traditional learning environment. Students are able to share thoughts and ideas about assignments via an asynchronous blog interface. This helps to build a state of congruence in terms of the knowledge that is being conveyed, shared, and assimilated.
Generally speaking, the pedagogic impact of SNS sites can prove to be a very valuable and beneficial pedagogic tool if implemented with the proper level of administrative oversight and effective delivery of content material.
Research findings from this study show that young adults tend to care very little about personal privacy. This often leads
to unsafe behavior in terms of the type and amount of information being shared online. Posting of personal or revealing content has also been proven to be directly related with the impulsive and youthful desire to establish a sense of social identity and egoistic individualism via public SNS posts. This imprudent, cavalier-like attitude toward personal privacy has become a prevailing subject topic within the public domain where countless individuals have become victims of their own expressive and extroverted ways.
One prime example for concern revolves around the growing issue of online Cyber-bullying. Teenagers are learning about the pitfalls associated with sharing personal information online within SNS settings. With very little to no supervision and accountability, young adults find themselves the target of many callous individuals who utilize this social networking tool as a psychological weapon to prey on the uninitiated. Personal information can instantly be made public knowledge with just a few clicks of the mouse. Because of the wide acceptance of social networking within the young adult community, there is a lot of attention from the legal community who seek justice for those who are preyed upon by social predators.
On a more positive note, the advent of educational SNS portals such as My Big Campus, delivers a greater sense of social oversight from an administrative standpoint that can assist in reducing legitimate concerns for privacy and security. Given that SNS portals such as My Big Campus cater specifically to the educational community at large, there is a golden opportunity for educational staff and administrators to raise and instill a greater sense of awareness and importance of privacy and security within the academic online setting. Students can feel more secure and at ease knowing that there is a greater level of authority within their educational environment (Schellens,Valcke, & Vanderhoven, 2013).
With educational-based SNS sites like My Big Campus, educators are able to efficiently and effectively deliver information content and comprehensive multimedia assignments. This new didactic approach helps to build student interest and team building morale by creating collaborative online sessions where students can engage in an assignment in a variety of different ways. Through the use of the My Big Campus portal and iOS mobile app, students can access school projects and assignments via desktop and mobile devices, allowing them more flexibility and freedom to learn organically without the constrictions of a traditional learning environment. Students are able to share thoughts and ideas about assignments via an asynchronous blog interface. This helps to build a state of congruence in terms of the knowledge that is being conveyed, shared, and assimilated.
Generally speaking, the pedagogic impact of SNS sites can prove to be a very valuable and beneficial pedagogic tool if implemented with the proper level of administrative oversight and effective delivery of content material.