The education system is currently stuck on how to go with teaching and learning in the twenty-

first century. Some people want to stick with the traditional model of a teacher in front of the
class and students reading at their desks because they believe in not creating new models. On
the opposite side of the debate are those who support innovation, saying that we should
reevaluate the approach we've been employing for hundreds of years and alter the nature of
the classroom.

The latter advocate for many reforms to the educational system, incorporating technology into
the classroom and exposing students to online learning are two of the most significant
advances. I have completed a good deal of research, taken multiple classes on K–12
technology integration, and worked with both pro and conscientious teachers. As more and
more technology is incorporated into classrooms and online learning, those who oppose it
sound like broken records when they attempt to support their positions. "Our students will learn
to just copy and paste," "There will be no need for teachers then," and—my personal favorite
—"Students will just be distracted with social media the entire time" are some of their
justifications. I find it astounding that social media is associated with such negative stereotypes
about students.

To stay in touch with peers, many college courses mandate that students maintain a Twitter
account, and many businesses utilize Facebook for networking. Why is social networking
discouraged for K–12 kids but encouraged in secondary education and the business world? In
order to advance in the field of education, teachers who are unwilling to modify their less
engaging lower-level lessons must log in to 21st Century Teaching, which boosts student
engagement and develops real-world skills. Using social media is only one way to do this.

Social media is seen as a potent catalyst since it actively influences both our personal and social
lives. But despite everything, social media has surely improved human civilization by uniting
people from all over the world in one location and creating a global village where people can
exchange ideas and experiences. It has also significantly altered our lives.

ARGUMENT

People frequently place the responsibility for student distraction, underachievement, and off-
task behaviors squarely on social media. I want to start by drawing attention to this concept of
distraction. Or are they simply disinterested in a dull lesson? Students ought to be so
engrossed, intrigued, and driven in class that they won't feel the need to use social media as a
diversion.

I realize that not every student will be interested and involved in every class, but it's something
to keep in mind. Returning to the subject at hand, is social media truly a problem? We could
call it Collaboration Station, Communication Central, or even Networking Technologies in place
of "Social Media." The list is endless. Social media itself is not the issue; rather, it is how people
perceive it to be used and how we are weakening its potential as a teaching tool.

COUNTER ARGUMENT

Social media may be an excellent means of communication for teachers to interact with parents
and students to discuss assignments and ask questions of one another. 936 million individuals
utilize Facebook on a daily basis (Smith, 2015). This number probably includes both parents
and students. Teachers can use Facebook to post assignments, important events, homework
help, etc. that parents and students can easily access, rather than sending home a planner full
of assignments or another newsletter that will sit on the counter before ending up in the trash
unread.

To enable instructors, students, and parents to use Facebook without having to become friends,
a teacher only needs to create a private Facebook group for students and teachers. A lot of
classrooms set up a Twitter page where students can post links for their peers to view or ask
brief questions. Additionally, teachers can set up a live stream conversation in which students
must come on at a set time to share their opinions and reply to those of their peers.

Students may quickly switch tabs and locate an online source to bolster their argument and
present it to the class, Twitter is an excellent tool for group discussions (Lederer, 2012). When
discussing how social media boosts student involvement, Karen Lederer really nailed the mark
when she said, "Students who don't often raise their hands in class might feel more at ease
expressing themselves on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube." Teachers can create "back channels"
through social networking sites to encourage conversation and bring up views that students are
too hesitant or afraid to express aloud (2012).

Students can participate in class discussions and work in small groups using social media, but
they can also benefit from it by using it to overcome their shyness while speaking in front of
others. These conversations, which used to happen in person in the classroom, now happen in
writing. Thus, in addition to exchanging thoughts with one another on a particular subject,
students are also editing their writing to make their points more succinctly. This, in my opinion,
is a fantastic exercise for the students.