A Paradigm Shift in Teaching: Using Social Media to Educate the 21st Century

The general migration of our culture toward greater interconnectedness via the Web 2.0 has created a paradigm shift of sorts in the realm of education.  Although the universal goals of education remain the same- to develop students capable of critical thinking and life-long learners with a strong social conscious- the means in which teachers have available to them to teach these goals has changed immensely.  We think it is the responsibility of all teachers to embrace this change in the approach to education and become familiar enough, with the current technology that is available to them, to help guide their instructional.  It is well established that students are more engaged and have greater authentic learning when technology is incorporated into the learning process.  We believe that teachers who fail to realize this, and remain static with traditional teaching approaches are doing their students a great disservice and not providing them with the best possible education.

        In turn, the role of the student has also undergone a significant change.  Students today have access to a global community that was not as easily accessible a decade ago.  We believe it is important that they embrace Social Media and the Web 2.0 in a positive way and understand that, when used properly, is the greatest educational tool in the world.  Furthermore, we believe that students must continue to take a more active role in their learning and accept a greater level of independence because of the new technology that is available to them.  Teachers should be encouraging students to explore the Web 2.0 and encouraging them to use these tools to do their own research on topics that are meaningful to them.

Teachers as well have now become facilitators in the classroom. Instead of lecturing and then testing for students understanding the teacher and student collaborate, communicate and adapt the learning to meet every learners needs. As teachers we now want to challenge our students and make them ask questions and to find answers. Through the use of technology we can have students research, collaborate, discover and learn online in ways that were never imagined in the past. Students are able to connect themselves to events, history and cultures across the world through the internet, making learning more focused to their interests. Through technology it seems the learning is limitless for the teacher and the student. There are no boundaries of what can be learned in the 21st century. Through, proper facilitating the teacher can allow the students mind to light up in knowledge.

Authored by Jon & Emily