Showing posts with label Communication Theory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communication Theory. Show all posts

Social Media in the Classroom

By Kim C. Smith, North Carolina A&T State University

Introduction

Following a discussion of communication-related theories with ties to online social media, students used their newly-found knowledge as a foundation to:
(a.) participate in Second Life (SL), a online virtual reality community
(b.) attempt to go three days with reduced media use
(c.) observe online social interaction behavior among them and their friends on Facebook, the most popular online social network among students.

Students wrote papers on their experiences, and had the option of videotaping their reflections using Web cams, or using Xtranormal, a program that allows students to speak through avatars. Students got a chance to see the theories they learned come to life through the online media they so heavily consume. The teaching technique (combining theory with practical application) brought a new dimension to teaching communication theory.