Social Media as a Tool for Teaching Large Enrollment Science Classes

Abstract

College science instructors are faced with two main challenges, the first of which is student engagement in courses to ensure retention in the major and successful completion of the program. The second is to provide adequate training in the curriculum, such that students graduate with critical scientific competencies from college. College-age students, and even younger students worldwide, are heavy users of social media tools such as Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Social media use is a means of engaging students by providing them an opportunity to connect, collaborate, communicate, and even generate new content online. Previous work has demonstrated the rich potential of these tools in augmenting student learning, and trends in education suggest that social media tools will become more mainstream in formal instruction. As a result, science classes could benefit greatly from incorporation of these social networking tools. In this chapter, I will provide a brief overview and guide to using social media in college STEM courses.