Education in Social Media
Education is the process by which people acquire knowledge, skills, ideas, values, attitudes, and behaviors, through instruction and interaction. Educational systems include training, teaching, direct observation, practice and guided reading. These practices produce learning that is relevant and of value to individuals and society at large. Individuals and society benefit from education because they promote awareness, understanding, responsibility, teamwork, and persistence. Education also produces individuals and society that are well-equipped to handle the many activities in life, ranging from finding a way to survive in the wild, to becoming a first responder for medical emergencies, to building efficient and effective transportation systems.
In education, there are four types of learners. These are formal, non-formal, formal, and informal learners. Formal learners are those who attend formal classes and include students in school, college, and university settings. Non-formal learners include children who are enrolled in informal education programs, like Head Start and K-12 education programs; adults who are not employed or pursuing formal education programs; and individuals who are not students in formal schooling programs.
Informal education is a part of the emerging social media learning process. Social media includes websites like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. Students who participate in these sites are called users, and are considered part of a social network. A student’s profile reveals much about their interests, activities, and personality. With this information, teachers can design lessons that incorporate online learning processes, such as discussion boards and online games, and use social media to promote the informal education model.