Use of Social Media as An Alternative to Classroom Teaching: An Experimental Study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The 21st century learners, also known as the millennial, are the students of this generation who are advanced in the use of technology. Most of the students spend their hours in using technological devices such as computers, tablets and cellphones in order to have access with the social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, Messenger and many others. In fact parents are very supportive in providing their children such gadgets to have an easy means of communication between them and their children as well as with other family members. This is also their means of tracking each other's location for safety purposes.The researcher took an interest on millennials by experimenting on how it is effective to use social media applications as an alternative to teaching. His motivation lies directly on the times where the teachers are out of the school to attend seminars and other school activities. Students who are left behind are given seat works just to comply or fill in the missing hours of the teachers. It is through this that the researcher decided to use messenger group chat during classroom discussion. Hence this experimental study is being proposed in order to address the issues regarding teachers' absence in the class during seminars and other school functions.

METHODS

The researcher utilized the descriptive survey method using a questionnaire as the main instrument in the collection of data. This descriptive survey design was chosen because of the economy of the design and the rapid turnaround in data collection.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that social media was very helpful to the students in terms of learning. Students perceived that using social media in learning was a useful way in understanding the lessons. Students thought that social media made them eager and interested in learning the lessons. On the other hand, students were challenged in terms of budget for cellphone load to be able to get connected in the use of social media.

DISCUSSIONS

The teachers should apply the use ofsocial media in teaching in their absence. Likewise, they should continue to use wide varieties of strategies since these are useful to the students. Teachers should also create an interactive environment in the use of social media for the students to become more eager and interested in learning the lessons and also try to use other social media applications in order to make their students even more interested. Lastly, teachers should attend a workshop in the use of social media to further enhance their skills.