How social media can enhance instruction and assessment in a virtual classroom

     As virtual classrooms have become more common than expected, teachers must engage students in meaningful ways while navigating the vast landscape of online learning. Through the integration of social media, educators can enhance both instruction and assessment as they adapt to this new paradigm. Students can be engaged, learn through social media platforms, and have their progress evaluated in innovative ways thanks to these dynamic and interactive platforms. Social media offers boundless opportunities for educators, providing a platform to enhance students' digital literacy and critical thinking skills. It can also help promote your class, your institution, and yourself (Christison, 2022). 

    One of the primary benefits of using social media in virtual classrooms is its ability to enhance instruction through various interactive features. Students can access relevant content, resources, and announcements in real time through platforms like Twitter and Instagram. Teachers can create hashtags or groups for students to participate in discussions, share insights, and collaborate. With the use of platforms such as WhatsApp or Messenger, teachers, and students can communicate directly, enabling instructors to answer questions, clarify concepts, and provide guidance in real-time. In addition, teachers have the option of delivering personalized feedback on assignments, presentations, or assessments using multimedia features such as voice messages or video recordings.

    Social media platforms offer diverse tools and functionalities that can be utilized for assessing student learning outcomes in virtual classrooms. According to Varthana (2023), Teachers can use social media to provide online homework and quizzes for students. Platforms like Google Classroom, Kahoot, Schoology, or Quizlet allow teachers to create and share assignments, quizzes, and interactive activities that students can access and complete at home. Teachers can design questions to assess understanding, identify areas of confusion, or solicit opinions. Students' perspectives are gained from these interactive tools, which enable instructors to tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of their students. 

    In conclusion, the integration of social media in virtual classrooms offers educators a powerful tool to enhance both instruction and assessment. Teachers can engage students in meaningful ways, promote collaboration, and provide personalized feedback by using platforms like Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Google Classroom. Instructors can assess students' understanding, gather feedback, and tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of their learners through online homework, quizzes, and interactive activities. Education in the digital age requires educators to embrace the opportunities presented by social media to create dynamic and engaging learning experiences.

 Reference

Christison, C. (2023, November 15). Using social media in education: 8 can’t-miss tips. Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard. https://blog.hootsuite.com/social-media-in-education/

Varthana. (2023a, March 31). Know how teachers can use social media to engage students. https://varthana.com/school/8-ways-teachers-are-using-social-media-for-learning-in-school/ 

Done By Abigayle Johnson