The quantitative study on 168 faculty members using partial least square (PLS-SEM) at

Carnegie classified Doctoral Research University in the USA confirmed that perceived
usefulness, external pressure and compatibility of task-technology have positive effect
on social media use, the higher the degree of the perceived risk of social media, the
less likely to use the technological tools for classroom instruction, the study further
revealed that use of social media for collaborative learning has a positive effect on
students learning outcome and satisfaction (Cao, Ajjan, & Hong, 2013). Therefore, the
authors have hypothesized:

 H1: Use of social media for collaborative learning is positively associated with
interactivity with teachers.

Additionally, Madden and Zickuhr (2011) concluded that 83% of internet user within the
age bracket of 18–29 years adopting social media for interaction with colleagues.
Kabilan, Ahmad, and Abidin (2010) made an empirical investigation on 300 students at
University Sains Malaysia and concluded that 74% students found to be the same view
that social media infuses constructive attitude towards learning English (Fig. 1).

 H2: Use of social media for collaborative learning is positively associated with
interactivity with peers.
 H3: Use of social media for collaborative learning is positively associated with
online knowledge sharing behaviour.
 H4: More interaction with teachers leads to higher students’ engagement.
 H5: More interaction with peers ultimately leads to better students’ engagement.
 H6: Online knowledge sharing behaviour is positively associated with the
students’ engagement.
 H7: Student's Engagement is positively associated with the student's academic
performance.
Finally, students’ engagement has been a statistically significant positive relationship
with students’ academic performance (β = .972, p < 0.001), this is the clear indication
that more engaged students in collaborative learning via social media leads to better
students’ academic performance.

From Nuisance to Learning Platform - How Teachers are Transforming TikTok

into an Edtech Tool

By: Griffin Jaeger

September 1, 2021

TikTok has pretty much taken over the world at this point. While your students have
been stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve likely spent a great deal of
time scrolling on their FYP (for you page), learning the newest dances, discovering
trends and even creating content of their own.

Pre-pandemic, it’s possible that teachers saw mobile devices as a distraction, taking
students away from classroom content and discussions. However, rather than
discouraging what could be a creative outlet, what if we switched up the narrative and
met students where they are? Right now, that’s on TikTok.

Some teachers have already hopped onto the trend. It’s worth a shot.

Last summer we spoke with Ty Cook and Brooke Rogers about how teachers are

fostering a community and feeding into student trends to create connections through
TikTok.

Since then, the trend has only grown, bringing all sorts of ideas and perspectives to
light.
Here are how teachers are transforming the ever-popular mobile video platform, TikTok,
from a nuisance to the ultimate learning tool.

Using TikTok for creative lessons

Think of it as a classroom extension. Only this time, rather than a few extra desks and
chairs, you’ve got the whole world in your hands.

Using TikTok, many teachers have begun creating condensed versions of their
classroom lessons. Whether they are teaching science, English, math or even physical
education, this gives students the ability to refer back to lessons they may have missed
in class or if they require a refresher.

The platform initially only allowed up to 60 seconds for each video created, forcing
teachers to stick to the main ideas to get their point across. Now, TikTok has
implemented a 3-minute video feature for creatives. Thus, allowing teachers to pack in
even more content within their digital micro-lessons.

There are tons of ways you can go about this. Some teachers choose to recreate
condensed versions of their lessons for students to refer back to. Others use the
platform as an extension to the day’s lesson, encouraging students to engage in
learning outside of school.

It's even possible to create a TikTok to remind students of important dates, upcoming
deadlines, or to share tips concerning productivity or course content.

Whatever format you decide to create your lessons in, your students are more likely to
engage with your content given that it’s being provided in one of their favorite forms of
mobile entertainment.
Just wait and see the kind of classroom engagement you can encourage.

Using TikTok to increase student engagement

There’s nothing teachers love more than an engaged classroom. Luckily, TikTok is
incredibly interactive, offering countless ways to grab students' attention and get them
excited about classroom content.

There are multiple ways you can go about this via TikTok.

First, through the comment section. Easily encourage students to comment on any
questions they have on your videos. Through the respond to comment feature, you can
then create a video response to their question or concern and share it directly with your
following.

In doing this, each student benefits from the information being provided and you're
providing personalized responses to meet your learners' needs.

As we know, some students may not feel as comfortable raising their hand in class as
other students, and that’s okay! This feature provides students who may feel more
comfortable typing their questions a way to engage in classroom discussions. Who
knows, after doing so, they may even foster the courage to begin speaking up in a
classroom setting.

Another way to encourage student engagement is through the duet function. On TikTok,
users are able to make video responses with the videos you post. For example, say you
create a TikTok with some practice math or French questions, finishing off by asking
students to “duet me to answer these questions" or "duet me to practice your French".
Your students can then create videos following along with your video and showing their
work. If they aren't comfortable posting on the app, they can save it to their device and
send it to you directly or show it to you in class the next day.

Using TikTok as a creative assignment

It’s no secret that TikTok fosters creativity amongst today’s youth - and they are excited
about it.

Why not hone in on this excitement and allow students to blend their love of TikTok with
their classroom assignments? For example, perhaps you're teaching literacy and you're
having students write a summary of a week’s chapter in the novel they're reading in
order to highlight the main points. Some students are excellent writers, but others prefer
oral communication. As a means of differentiating, you could offer TikTok as a potential
format for the assignment. In this form, students who may excel in oral communication,
or those who are excited about multimedia, can create their summary via the app. It
encourages students to flex their creative skills while being concise and to the point.

This idea will work for practically any classroom subject. Why not have your students
take the role of teacher and create a short-form lesson? Or perhaps have them take
inspiration from current trends and songs and adapt them to their classroom learning?
You’ll be enlightened by what your students can come up with when they can blend
education with applications, they are excited about.

Combatting potential issues on TikTok

With any form of digital communication, such as TikTok, users run the risk of various
issues. Before deciding to use the platform for all of the great features it has to offer, it is
important to take note of these issues to decide if using the platform is a good fit for
your classroom.
Harmful behavior and cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a persistent issue on social media that we’ve been seeing for years.
Being that TikTok is an open forum, we need to ensure we are doing everything in our
power to prevent these harmful behaviors.

Luckily, Tiktok has implemented features to prevent cyberbullying like the ability to filter
your comment section and hide any comments that include harmful language or
behaviors and a notification that urges commenters to reconsider what they are posting
if they attempt to post anything that isn't appropriate.

While these are great steps forward, it remains important to have a conversation with
your students about the weight and significance that language can hold and the
consequences that come with misbehavior. We want to ensure that using TikTok in the
classroom only encourages students to engage, and doesn't steer them away.

Ensuring student safety on TikTok

 

User Privacy

User privacy is important to consider. Every student and every parent has personal
comfort levels that need to be taken into consideration when using any form of social
media, like TikTok.

Before deciding to use TikTok in your classroom in any capacity, you must have a
conversation with your school administration to discuss any rules your institution may
have and to get their permission to use the application.
It’s also a great idea to give notice to your student’s caregivers, asking them to get
permission from their parent or guardian to ensure that consent is provided in all
capacities.

TikTok has also addressed user privacy with a variety of features outlined below.

Private accounts and friend lists

On TikTok, you can make your account private. In this way, any account that attempts
to follow you or your students on TikTok must put in a request and be accepted by the
account owner. This is highly recommended.

In doing this, you can ensure that only your students can interact and view each other's
content.

By making your account private, it does mean you're unable to create TikTok content
catered towards a wider audience. If that is your overarching goal, we recommend you
read #teachersoftiktok: How to effectively use TikTok in your classroom.

Comment restrictions

In TikTok, you are able to tighten restrictions on comments for youth users. Accounts
are able to restrict comments to just friends, or even prevent all any comments from
being added.

Duet and stitch settings

This same feature goes for dueting and stitching videos. You can change your settings
so that only older students, above the age of 16, can duet and stitch videos.
Alternatively, you can restrict duet and stitch to just friends - keeping it within your
classroom.

Not posting, just saving

If students are not comfortable posting at all, that’s perfectly okay. Any TikTok viewed or
created within TikTok is available for download, even before posting.

If a student plans to make a TikTok, they can download the video after editing and save
it to their device without posting. From there, students can share it with you in person,
by email, or by uploading it to your online class environment, such as a digital portfolio.

For students who are not comfortable downloading the application at all, that’s no
problem. You can download each one of your TikTok lessons and then share them
directly with your classroom by providing links or video files.

TikTok as an edtech tool: Yay or nay?

In implementing any new edtech tool, there are different points to consider.

While many teachers across the world are using TikTok as a way to engage with other
educators and turn what could be a distraction into a powerful learning tool, you may
have a different opinion, and that’s okay.

So teachers, what are your thoughts?

Are you eager to meet students where they are and turn TikTok into a classroom
engagement super-app, or is it still not for you?
In whatever capacity you decide to use it, remember to have fun, be creative and stay
safe.

It’s time we meet students where they are and use their interests and excitement to the
classroom’s advantage.

REFERENCES:

Jaeger, G. (2021, September 1). From Nuisance to Learning Platform - How Teachers

are Transforming TikTok into an Edtech Tool. Spaces.

https://spacesedu.com/en/tiktok-as-a-teaching-tool/.

Ansari, J.A.N., Khan, N.A. (2020, March 16). Exploring the role of social media in
collaborative learning the new domain of learning. Smart Learn.
Environ. 7, 9 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-020-00118-7.

Plakhotnik MS, Volkova NV, Jiang C, Yahiaoui D, Pheiffer G, McKay K, Newman S and
Reißig-Thust S (2021) The Perceived Impact of COVID-19 on Student
Well- Being and the Mediating Role of the University Support: Evidence From France,
Germany, Russia, and the UK. Front. Psychol. 12:642689. doi:
10.3389/fpsyg.2021.642689.

Pearce, K. (2020, March 13). What is social distancing and how can it slow the spread of

COVID-19? The Hub. https://hub.jhu.edu/2020/03/13/what-is-social-distancing/

ViewSonic, D. (2021, July 7). What Is Distance Learning? And Why Is It So Important?

ViewSonic Library. https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/what-is-distance-

learning-and-why-is-it-so-important/#:%7E:text=Distance%20learning%20describes

%20any%20learning,schools%20or%20teachers%20by%20mail.