Facebook: Too Big to Ignore

http://comicskingdom.com/between-friends/

Earthworms play a vital role in preparing the soil and seeds to establish an environment that nurtures development and growth. If one was to magnify the significance of work that happens under the surface, one can make metaphorical links to how social media has established its place in modern society starting at the ground (social) level and slowly moving its way into classrooms (and education).

Morbey, Sabeti, and Sengara (2016) aim to explore the role social networking can play in teaching and learning in education at the university level through the use of Facebook for online collaboration and multimedia learning in blended courses in a longitudinal study. By leveraging social media use, educators aim to improve the learning process for students to meet them where they are at in the world of digital technology and embrace “non-formal” literacies as “bridges that can expand and improve ...formal academic practices”. A Google search of recent Facebook statistics found: “Worldwide, there are over 1.79 billion monthly active Facebook users (Facebook MAUs) which is a 16 percent increase year over year. What this means for you: In case you had any lingering doubts, statistically, Facebook is too big to ignore.”

Revisiting Brown’s (2000) notion of creating new learning environments using digital technology, Facebook as an educational platform may also support Franklin’s (1999) earthworm theory of social change. Earthworms play a vital role in preparing the soil and seeds to establish an environment that nurtures development and growth. If one was to magnify the significance of work that happens under the surface, one can make metaphorical links to how social media has established its place in modern society starting at the ground (social) level and slowly moving its way into classrooms (and education). Being “too big to ignore,” educators have started to embrace Facebook for formal academic practices. The new learning environment, established under the surface and widely accepted and adopted by millions of people, fosters opportunities for wider collaboration and communication to facilitate learning.

Reference:

Morbey, M. L., Sabeti, M. F., & Sengara, M. (2016, April) Posting, Pedagogy and Purpose – A Multi-year Study of Facebook in Higher Education. Paper presented at the 2016 American Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C.