Written by Mark Blankenship, “How Social Media Can and Should Impact Higher Education“, discusses how the Internet and social media can affect learning. Blankenship introduces the article by stating he is a professor and that he had talked to a class through the use of Skype. He claims, “except for the fact that I never shared a physical space with them, my experience with the students was remarkably similar to the experience I’ve had
with students in the actual world.” This idea that a professor can teach a class
without leaving his home through the use of the Internet is intriguing. This not
only opens potentials for education but poses questions in terms of social media
relationships. In his description of teaching a class through Skype, Blankenship
mentioned that this experience was difficult because he could not make eye contact with the students. This concept is not only literal as he could only look at the camera and not convey a personal contact with the students, but metaphorically as well. This statement
shows the impact of social media on individuals’ personal relationships. When one uses the social media sites to communicate, though they are “talking” with another individual, how meaningful is the connection when they cannot make a face to face connection, such as eye contact?
Blankenship also addresses the use of Internet resources in education. One example he states is the use of the Internet to help students participate in class. Blankenship claims,
“students who don’t share in class, who maybe don’t feel comfortable talking,
might feel comfortable writing.” this is an interesting point as he also states that the use of Internet resources can help increase the interest of students. I believe that if used in conjunction with a class, social media and the internet’s resources as a whole can help a class he more intriguing and enriching.
