The notion of the tweed jacketed professor sequestered within ivy-covered walls, holding fast to outdated practices is so … old school. Today’s faculty members are no Luddites with a growing number using social media in the classroom and for student interaction, according to a new study from Pearson titled: “Social Media in Higher Education.”
Nearly 1,000 faculty members nationwide participated in this first-of-its-kind survey and revealed that almost 80 percent of college professors are active social media users. “College faculty has embraced social media and a majority has integrated some form of these tools into their teaching,” said Jeff Seaman, Ph.D., co-director of the Babson Survey Research Group, which helped conduct this study. “While some faculty remain skeptical, the overall opinion is quite positive, with faculty reporting that social media has value for teaching by over a four-to-one margin.”
Some findings include:
Faculty members have also shown great enthusiasm regarding new technologies in the classroom. At campuses across the nation, faculties have eagerly embraced Barnes & Noble’s NOOKstudy and NOOKstudy for Blackboard Learn.
Tell us about some of the innovative ways faculty are using social media on your campus in the comments section below.