Web 2.0 and Social Media

When thinking of the Web, it is hard to imagine its existence before Web 2.0. Interaction among the internet is its most common use in today’s society. Almost any site you visit, there is a link for you to interact with others, or even chat directly with people. It’s as if we are so immune to this concept that we forget to appreciate how insanely helpful Web 2.0 truly is. Social media has the ability to help us connect to anywhere at any time. Consider how much time is being saved and applied elsewhere. The rate that news travels is unprecedented and can be contributed to the interconnectedness that Web 2.0 has allowed.

It is easy to see how these ideas can be criticized in the field of education. Having a forum where we can so easily reach out to others to communicate can be used incorrectly, and seen as a distraction in the eyes of many. But consider the vast numbers of people and places we are able to touch base with in just moments, and realize that there is a much bigger picture here to see.

Social media is used everywhere; whether it be a “like us on Facebook” or employers  reading into people’s pages during an interview process, what people write and post is being taken seriously. This unfortunately has been the downfall of many, and I believe it to be a reason why social media may put a bad taste in educator’s mouths. With so many children going home to login to their social media accounts, it may the last place that educators want to direct more time to. However, social media I believe is a wonderful means for learning to take place. Having your teacher and fellow students in a group and reachable at all times is only beneficial to learning. It is a great way for students to keep track of their education and stay updated on what is going on presently and what is to come. It is easily accessible for parents to be kept in the loop of what their children should be doing and when. It can even be used to download homework if you are sick or to ask questions to help you understand your studies. Web 2.0 and social media should definitely not be left out of education but rather the opposite. Integrating social media and interactive websites into education can help to ensure that all learners needs are being met at all hours of the day.