Clicking with Students: Embracing Social Media in Modern Pedagogy

• In Event: Research In Progress Roundtables Session 4
  In Invited Roundtable: Research on Teaching and Learning: Curriculum, Pedagogy, Self-Directed Learning, and Student Resilience (Table 12)

Abstract

This study investigates how educators can effectively use social media to enhance student engagement in secondary education. Grounded in Lave and Wenger’ s (1991) Situated Learning Theory, the research explores students’ perspectives on integrating social media platforms into curricula, recognizing their expertise in this domain. Through narrative inquiry and interviews with high school students, the study examines the perceived benefits and challenges of incorporating social media into learning environments. Preliminary findings reveal students’ concerns about potential distractions alongside an acknowledgement of social media’ s communication and community-building affordances. This research aims to bridge the gap between students’ digital fluency and educators’ pedagogical practices, advocating for student-centered learning (Moffett, 1968) that leverages social media to improve educational outcomes in the digital age.

Authors

• Eun Bee Ellin Kim, Teachers College, Columbia University

• Edeline Jung, Think & Write

• Catherine Lee, Youth Teams in Education Research

• Julia Kim, Think & Write