Can Social Media Improve Study Skills?
If you were to listen to the hype about social media being a huge waste of time, you might think that it would be anti-productive for a college student to use sites like Facebook and Twitter for studying. However, recent academic polls indicate that social networking sites can in fact be useful educational platforms when used correctly. With that said, here are three reasons why social media can improve your study skills:
1. Forming Collective Study Groups
The reason why distance learning institutions like the University of South Dakota online still use forums and other group oriented planning is because not only is it the most efficient way to teach a large number of students, but the group environment also facilitates learning at an accelerated pace. Social media lets you bring the social presence of the classroom home, except students also have the added advantage of not having their communications hindered by the professor or teacher. Private messaging can even be used to ask friends for direct help with an assignment. You could even ask someone to give you a quiz. This is a level of free social interaction that can’t be found in the classroom, and when it occurs among dedicated students who are studying the same subject, it can be highly conducive to progress.
2. Creating a Library of Study Materials
Social media groups can be used to post online publications, quotes, facts, links to resources, and anything else that can serve as a beneficial study guide within a complex topic. This gives students a public platform on which to post the most pertinent notes on each subject. For example, instead of being limited to the notes you were capable of taking within the span of a lecture, you have instant access to the notes of many other students. This collective brain approach can put a social media whiz way ahead of the class.
3. Sharing Infographics, Memes, and Videos for Enhanced Information Retention
Studies have shown that different kinds of information are more or less likely to be retained by students. Social media content is condensed into memes and infographics that do a great job of driving home a key point in a memorable way. When you become accustomed to digesting information in this manner, it also improves your reading comprehension abilities making it easier to assimilate new data at a rapid pace. Plus, teaching other students is actually the best way to make sure you won’t forget the information yourself.
Creating a Student Account to Avoid The Distractions
Although it certainly seems social networking sites like Facebook can provide ideal platforms for continuing the academic discourse and sharing information with students from around the world, it can also be a major distraction that takes away from your ability to make the most out of study time. It may be best to create a separate account specifically for study related activities. This way your news feed and wall won’t be cluttered with distracting posts that might tempt you to watch a video or read a funny meme when you’re supposed to be studying.
