What is Social Media?

Facebook and Twitter immediately come to mind when you hear the phrase “social media,” but there’s more to it. Social media is the way we communicate and connect with others electronically, and it’s becoming a defining part of our students’ (and our) lifestyles.

Whether or not you choose to use these tools in the classroom, it’s important to understand the purposes and functions of social media because these online environments are shaping the way your students write, read, and communicate.

This section of The Wheel will explore academic assessment of social media, and consider specific ways that social media is being leveraged in the education community. We will also share insights we’ve learned from other scholars about how the phenomena is (re)defining our society.