Challenges and Opportunities for use of Social Media in Higher Education
Challenges and Opportunities for use of Social Media in Higher Education
Date
2019-03
Authors
Anderson, Terry
Editor
Corporate Author
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
Report/Paper Number
Abstract
Likely the most significant and life changing technologies of the 21st Century is the
adoption of social media as major components of commercial, entertainment and educational
activities. In this article, I overview the supposed benefits of the application of these tools within
formal higher education programs. I then discuss the disadvantages and challenges, with a focus on
the paradox that accompanies convenience and value in use, with loss of data control. It is likely
that we will continue to see both authorized and unauthorized use of data that we have created for
both personal and institutional use. I conclude by examining some of the solutions proposed and
tested to resolve this challenge. I then overview two possible solutions - the first focused on
institutions creating and managing their own social media and the second an emergent technical
solution whereby users keep control of their data, while sharing and growing in multiple social
contexts.
Description
Subject
Higher Education
Country
Canada
Region
Caribbean and Americas
Series
Journal of Learning for Development;vol. 6, no. 1