Student Voices & Educator Tips: Embracing the Love of using #TechforGood
In the spirit of the season of love, we huddled with our Student Ambassadors to gather insights on what they love most about their experiences with social media.
Whether they’re sharing trending TikTok videos, catching up over FaceTime after school, or gaming together at night, students’ favorite platforms provide invaluable tools for connecting, empathizing, and huddling.
As we gear up for Valentine’s Day, we’re embracing why students love social media as a place to learn. By tuning into students’ perspectives, educators can bridge the gap and better understand them, empowering students to care about the content they are consuming and how it is affecting the world around them.
What students love about social media
Social media allows people with different backgrounds to connect and share their stories. Although there is often hate and misinformation on specific platforms, it is much better to be informed than oblivious to a particular culture or current event. – Eleanor, Grade 10
I love how social media can allow people worldwide to connect in a new way. – Piper, Grade 12
I love social media because it allows me to express myself and what I care about. -Vivian, Grade 11
I love social media simply because anybody and everybody can find something they love somewhere out there. – Dilan, Grade 9
Social media has allowed me to connect with people, allowing me to prepare for change (especially going to college next year). – Victoria, Grade 12
I love social media because I can stay connected with my friends & family. Social media can be used for the greater good- like for social activism. I can stay up to date with the world and my favorite celebrities! – Gia, Grade 7
I use social media because it helps me know what is happening worldwide. I can also talk to my friends. I also like social media because I can stay updated with influential celebrities. – Will, Grade 7
Social media is always helping my friends de-stress and take a break when school gets too hard. It helps them cope with all the pressure as we near high school. – Maya, Grade 8
I love social media because it gives you a feeling of connection with people worldwide, and through social media, you can see people’s daily lives everywhere. – Pareezay, Grade 7
Social media allows people to understand what’s happening worldwide. – Charlotte, Grade 5
I believe social media can be a great way to inspire people, especially kids, about time management in school. – Justin, Grade 8
TSI’s Take
Social media is something that many students love. And what better way to engage your students than by incorporating what they love into the classroom? Check out the challenges below to create engaging learning environments by empowering students to use social media a powerful learning tool.
Here are two ways educators can empower students:
- Encourage Curiosity: As an educator, fostering curiosity among students is essential for their growth and development. One way to do this is by incorporating inquiry-based learning activities using social media platforms. Educators can encourage students to explore diverse topics that align with their interests and passions by providing them with specific prompts or questions about current events and guiding them in conducting independent research online.
- Challenge: Create a project where students investigate how different cultures celebrate Valentine’s Day around the world by using social media platforms like Twitter, Google, and Instagram hashtags. By promoting curiosity and encouraging exploration, educators can empower students to use social media as a tool for learning and discovery.
- Promote Collaboration: Collaboration is a vital skill for students to develop, both in traditional classrooms and online environments. To promote collaboration through social media, educators can create virtual spaces or online communities where students can work together on projects, share ideas, and engage in group discussions. Platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, or even dedicated groups on social media platforms can facilitate this collaborative learning experience.
- Challenge: Assign a group project that empowers students to leverage tools such as shared documents, video conferencing, and messaging features. By fostering a sense of community and teamwork in online learning environments, educators can challenge students to effectively collaborate and learn from one another using social media and technology as a shared medium.
When we understand students and their experiences, we can better empower and equip them. As our students navigate the fast-changing world of social media and tech, let’s embrace the positive aspects of what they love most about social media. Discover more about just how social learning is in our 2024 Social Student Report.
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The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.