The Next generations in developed and developing countries have been spending considerable about of time on Social Media. Is this a concern? Definitely yes since they have reduced time watching TV or going for outdoor sports. But rather than worrying about the concern, i think children spending time on Social Media offers us a platform to where children can be educated on Social Media platforms. The advantage of doing so is that their interest in Social Media activities will be tied up with the long term benefit of education?
But the big question is how this can be possible. Any why it should be encouraged? One of the first things i feel is that this should be encouraged this that, online education can fill the demand supply gap especially in countries like Afghanistan. For example the country has been spending enormous amount of money in building its infrastructure. But once the infrastructure it is build, it will be difficult for the Government of Afghanistan to get teachers with so much experience to come to the campuses. There can be lot of reason on why it might not be possible.
But with online education tools, teacher and students can interact sitting at respective location. Incorporating social networking tools into educational curriculum is the way forward. With the help of Interne, students can be involved in project based assignments in the real world, taking place around the world. The list of advantageous is enormous. Kids of Afghanistan will not be discriminated. They can get access to same teacher who teaches in New Delhi or New York.
Today lot of schools block social networking site despite the fact that some sites may be great educational resources. There are some great discussion and live help that can available through this sites/ blogs. Hence schools and parents should open up the conversation and figure out what to block and what to filter. In India, where eight million children between the ages of six and 14 are estimated to be out of school working as hard laborers or domestic workers, UNICEF implements an innovative teaching method needed to help these children eventually enroll in the mainstream school system.
Here is another nice video in which President Obama speaks about the critical need for education reform and discusses what his Administration has done to raise standards and encourage excellence during a speech to the Urban League.
According to Mashable.com , higher education – is “experiencing a similar shift as it struggles to adapt traditional design and delivery models to the demands of modern audiences who are accustomed to digital interactivity.”. Another report by Sloan Consortium reports that “two-thirds of post-secondary educational institutions are seeing an increase in online courses and programs”. These reports are good indicator but it is important to focus on quality of the courses and not quantity.
Most of the counties which have good infrastructure needs to focus on designing courses in way that young adults who use social media will be interested to use this platforms. The contents on Social Media platforms should be able to keep the interest of the young generation. Countries like Afghanistan where it is difficult to get education; Online education can be a big boon to future generation. It is time educational institutions begin to make major, yet realistic, steps toward revamping their online presence in basic education. Today business schools and certificate programs are being provided online. But it is important that basic education online infrastructure is built.
