In my current role as a radiography teacher at a university of applied sciences, I use a variety of digital tools to support teaching and student learning. Moodle learning environment plays the most central role as a platform for sharing materials, submitting assignments, making exams and tracking student progress. To enhance interactivity in my class, I use Kahoot, which adds a game element to teaching and helps engage students. For remote teaching and online meetings, I rely on Zoom, which enables interaction in a virtual environment. These tools support my teaching work and help create a diverse learning experience for students.
Positive and negative sides of social media
Social media is definitely a double-edged sword. One of the most significant benefits of social media is its ability to connect people across the globe. Different social media platforms provide excellent opportunities for networking, helping individuals and professionals build relationships that can benefit their personal and career development. Social media also serves as a powerful tool for information sharing. For businesses, social media is indispensable for cost-effective marketing and growth. Social media platforms also encourage creativity and self-expression. They provide spaces for users to share art, photography, writing, and videos, offering an outlet for personal creativity and storytelling.
Despite many advantages, the overuse of social media comes with significant drawbacks. One of the most common concerns is addiction and time consumption. Many users spend excessive hours scrolling through feeds, reducing productivity and interfering with real-life relationships. Platforms designed to connect people can paradoxically lead to isolation.
Also, social media often contributes to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Exposure to idealized lifestyles, heavily filtered images, and curated content can create unrealistic expectations that lead to negative results. Additionally, cyberbullying and online harassment are serious problems. Vulnerable individuals, especially young people, can be subjected to harmful behavior. Privacy and security concerns complicate social media usage. Personal data shared on these platforms is often at risk of being misused.
In the end, the impact of social media ultimately depends on how it is used. To maximize its benefits while reducing its risks, users need to find a balance in using and utilizing social media.
Five tools of social media
LinkedIn is an excellent platform for professional networking. You can share articles, career opportunities, or create a group where industry professionals can network and discuss relevant topics. I haven’t used LinkedIn yet, but should definitely create a profile.
Padlet allows you to create visual and interactive boards where students can add their thoughts, feedback, or ideas. It can be used for brainstorming, managing group projects, or collecting input in real-time, fostering collaboration and creativity. I’ve actually used Padlet a few times, but i should definitely look in to it more.
I could definitely utilize Chat GPT in my line of work. I could for example generate questions for exams or draft outlines or lesson plans for my classes. Many teachers use AI and it can be agreat assistant if used correctly. I should definitely look into it more.
Mentimeter is an excellent tool for creating interactive, engaging, and dynamic learning experiences. As a teacher, I could use it in various ways to make my lessons more interactive. With Mentimeter I can create for example polls, word clouds, live Q&A’s and interactive quizzes. The only problem with Mentimeter is that the free version allows only 50 users/month and our classes are bigger than that. We should get a lisence to get all the benefits from it.
Hangouts was a totally new platform for me. I believe students would benefit from this platform. They could form study groups and work on their group assignments here.
Self evaluation
Reflecting on my personal use of social media, I recognize both positive habits and areas where I could improve. On the positive side, I use platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp to stay connected with friends, family, and colleagues. I find these tools valuable for example for maintaining relationships. However, I also acknowledge that I sometimes spend more time on social media than I intend. Also I occasionally find myself affected by comparing myself to others. I know I need to set clearer boundaries for social media usage and focus on maintaining a healthy balance between online and offline interactions.
Workwise, familiarity with various social media platforms offer opportunities to improve my teaching. Exploring different platforms could help me make lessons more effective, engaging, and better tailored to the needs of my students. I just need to find the time to actually familiarize myself with different platforms. Moving forward, I plan to actively explore new platforms and assess how they could complement my teaching methods.