Smartphones are essentially ubiquitous on college and university campuses today and higher education needs to better tap into the potential of these devices. According to findings from Pew Research Center, a full 100 percent of adults ages 18 to 29 say they own a cellphone, and 96 percent report owning a smartphone. These students also typically own a variety of other connected devices, including tablets, desktop computers and laptops.
Students spend significant time on their social media accounts. Another study by Pew Research Center found that 72 percent of Americans under 30 say they use social media, but that percentage is closer to 100 percent on most higher education campuses. Pew found that 95 percent of adults under 30 visit YouTube, while about two-thirds use Facebook and Instagram.
Most colleges and universities have social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and other sites. Schools leverage social media to showcase their institution’s strengths and core values, highlight student and faculty accomplishments and communicate essential messages to students, professors and staff. It’s become essential for schools to have a social media presence and put considerable thought, time and energy into their social media activities.
A great page on key social media outlets can help in the admissions process by attracting prospective students early in the applications process. Research from TargetX found that 58 percent of future students will consider putting a college or university on their applications list after checking out its social media feed. A strong social media presence can also help keep alumni connected to their school.
But social media also has some valuable applications in teaching and learning. Here are some ideas for using various social media platforms in the college and university classroom:
- Stream live lectures and host class discussions. Sprout Social recommends using Facebook Groups to stream Facebook Live lectures, post discussion questions, assign homework and make class announcements. It’s also a great way to engage students during school breaks.
- Post reminders for assignments and due dates. Use Twitter as a discussion board by using a separate Twitter handle for each class. This social medium can encourage class debates, but the 280-character limit keeps students on track and concise in their messages.
- Create student and course presentations on YouTube. Used by nearly all college and university students, YouTube is easy and comfortable to access and use. Professors can assign presentations for students to post on a private group channel or share lectures with students during or afterwards.
- Share photo essays. Students can use Instagram to create visual presentations with a series of photos that enable digital storytelling. Students and professors can create Instagram accounts specifically for a course and then delete at the end of the semester.
- Use blogs for class discussions. Professors can use the various available blogging platforms such as WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr or Squarespace for a class blog where students can comment and discuss the topic.
- Assign blogs. Students can write their own blog, practicing essays and short-form writing. Professors can provide prompts for student response or assign a blog as a semester-long project.
- Organize resources, plans and worksheets. Professors can use Pinterest to create boards with information relevant to individual lessons or the broader course. Students can use Pinterest to assemble a bibliography for research projects or put together a list of resources to consult as they work.