This page contains the articles I have written for other publications. There isn't a particular theme here. These articles in certain ways represent my views relating to the context of the articles. Freely comment and we will learn a great deal.
Note: The latest article is always on top
Article One - Social Media & Education
I wrote this article for Vantage Point (http://vantagepoint.com.sg/2011/09/hey teacher i am connecting right now/). It is a magazine published bi-monthly by Eagles Communications, a non-profit, inter-denominational ministry. The magazine focuses on relevant issues of living out the Christian faith in the Church, Marketplace and Society.
This article concerns the influence of Social Media on classroom teaching. Being an Academic Association to the Republic Polytechnic, I wasn't spared from distractions brought about by these social medias. I have expressed my views through this article.
The editor has sent me these questions to sculpt the boundaries of the article. Here they are,
- How have you applied social media in your lessons?
- What is the culture like among your students who use social media in class and how is it different compared to how you learnt when you were in school?
- What are the pros and cons of integrating social media in the education system?
Learning is a life journey possesses by everyone that has no finishing line to cross. Most visibly, our learning journey started when our path of education commences but nothing can be further than the truth. While we gain knowledge through formal education, the real learning comes from the numerous and often taken for granted social interactions we encountered in our lives. If one defines education as learning, it is then not possible to take socializing out of the equation.
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| No need to be taught |
As a part-time lecturer in one of the local polytechnics, indeed a privileged position, I am bestowed with the responsibilities to impress upon these youngest the passion for learning. As well as a package of skills and knowledge set forth by the local education ministry.
Having the discipline to learn is no doubt a virtue. I think today's polytechnic students could understand the meaning of discipline but most will possess insufficient life experiences to appreciate of its importance. The insulated lifestyle has conditioned them to seek out for easier alternative to numb the pressure from the constant bombardment of information from the many lessons and homework assigned to them.
To students, learning should take on certain elements of fun. When the lecturer fails to provide fun, they will seek fun autonomously. The path of least resistance always wins. Where might they acquire the notion of fun within learning? Perhaps we can attribute to those radical educationists who aggressively marketed alternate means to learning. These messages often connote elements of fun whilst learning. It sells therefore fun could no longer be omitted as a lure to make parents pay for such enhancement programs for their beloved kids.
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| Laughter boosts interest thus learning |
Fun is perhaps the greatest attraction of social media. While this article has not provided data on the amount of time people spent on social media, we can safely assume that it is significant. Many reasons could be provided to justify the addiction to social media but if the process isn’t fun, it wouldn’t have such profound influence in our society, take for example the soaring frequency and number of visits to social media websites during Singapore’s last general election.
For the social animals, reaching out to masses has never been easier. For the hermits, they could selectively connect with certain individuals. For the psychopaths, they can take on other identities on live in another life. For the forgetful ones, missing friends' birthday is a thing in the past. For the love seekers, feeling shy is easily overcome. How would not someone use it?
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| A usual sight in today's classrooms |
Are students not using paper and pens anymore? Gradually it might take on this mode of learning, i.e. paperless and fully electronics. In the polytechnic I am lecturing, all educational activities are done through a common portal. The entire campus is fitted with wireless internet facilitates for both staff and students. Remaining logged-on to the grid is gradually seen as an indicator of productivity. Latching on to social medias whilst online is a given. Even among staff, we are encouraged to communicate through an online chat application. While it is not entirely a social media but it is surely a subset.
Can lecturers stop students from using social media during class? Politically speaking YES because …… they can. A common house rule of "No laptops during lectures" will eliminate the use of social medias. Unfortunately in the context of learning, it comes with a price. Where desire lurks, it fights back harder when it is suppressed. Passively, students may resist learning when subject to such house rules. If they can use social media in class, would the quality of learning be mediocre? There isn't one right way to deal with this. Who teaches, who manages. In a warp sense of reality, the students may become under-develop if they are deprived the use of such medias in this information technology era.
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| Some educators say NO to social media outright |
Personally, I think there is no fixated way to capitalize on social media in learning. Perhaps indirectly social media can be utilized in lecturers-students’ communication. The widespread use of social media among students is probably underpinned by their desires to exercise freedom and rights. When deprived of the accessibility, it can be perceived as disrespecting their entitlement. Well, the general response is passive defiance instead of opened confrontation. When students refuse to learn, the situation turns into a zero-sum game.
By not restricting the use of social media during lesson explicitly but addresses the pitfalls, students are given the space to exercise their judgment, regardless of appropriate or not. It shouldn’t imply that such distractions are advocated as well. Many educators will tend to err on the safe side by restricting the students' space in making judgment. If students are robbed of the opportunity to make tolerable mistakes now, they will likely make bigger ones later. Perhaps even to avoid making decisions to minimize the exposure to mistakes as well. These behaviors seem pervasive in our society …
It may sound superficial but when students like their lecturers, boring subjects become interesting too. When students feel that they are being respected, they will reciprocate. This is the onset of quality learning process. Indirectly, social media can add value to learning.
Depending on topics, interesting associations could be made between the topics taught and social medias. Students are likely to understand the lessons through these associations. Many useful analogies are generated due social media too. As they are online, they can quickly verify any assumptions or claims made. Certain websites have fun learning applications that can arouse interest as well. These merits may not be directly from social media but by virtue of staying online, it opens up another option in obtaining information.
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| Curiosity |
From 80s to 90s, transmission teaching methodology was widely adopted across most levels of education. What ever written on the board was to be taken as facts and truth. No room was given for alternative perspectives. Students who use social media during class can easily conduct secondary research to verify the information presented by the lecturer as the lessons unfold. With ownership of learning, the resulted discussions are generally relevant and meaningful.
Educators can take for granted that all students are adequately vocal and able to raise queries to facilitate their personal learning. Nothing is more erroneous … while most of people undergone similar stages of development but hardly the same pace. Students can get to share his or her thoughts through the use of social media without the need to confront the fear of public speaking. It is usual to verify each other’s understanding through social medias as lessons are underway. Is this an advantage? Without contextualization, this claim remains neutral.
Social media is not all good for sure but it isn’t down right evil as well. The question is probably relevance and management. Educators must first appreciate its potential and recognize the expected side effectives before taking on this double-edged sword. However in the true spirit of learning to deal with the world, recognizing both aspects of good and bad are essential. General education builds efficiency but neglects effectiveness largely. This is especially true when students are prevented from making judgments, regardless good or bad. Imagine if there is no alternative to good, good will loose it essence, isn't it?
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| Various Social Medias |
In summary, social medias have certain unique advantages over formal education in terms of growth in personal learning. These medias could even fill up the gaps of formal education when utilized appropriately. Conversely, the perspective towards integrating social media in education is divided and even highly controversial. Educators who attempt to utilize such alternate means in teaching must manage both the upsides and downsides. With freedom comes responsibility. Educators who grant freedom to students should be ready for liabilities from it. Above all, social medias are FUN. With our approval or not, social media is here to stay and evolve. After all, learning is nothing more than a process of communication, so is socializing. Perhaps it is time for educators to see beyond transmission of information as the only purpose of education.
-End of article one-
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