Sean Coughlan, a BBC News education reporter, recently wrote an excellent article on how Facebook and social media platforms are reducing student drop-out rates. He sighted eight major reasons for this phenomenon.
1.) Social networking sites are successfully being used to keep students informed and connected with instructors.
2.) Using Facebook pages for information on individual courses help the students to bond with each other, work together as a team and maintain their connection with staff.
3.) Social media platforms are young-adult friendly communication tools that create a positive effect on motivation.
4.) Going to social networking Web sites is a natural for young adults and a way they are comfortable with getting their information.
5.) With social media platforms available through mobile phones, students can keep in touch with each other and be given support outside of class. It fits with their on-the-go lifestyles.
6.) Instructors can give students that often forget about class assignments a ‘gentle prod’ through social media updates.
7.) The sites are also a way to keep in touch with students that are about to start a course and to help them connect with future course mates.
8.) Coughlan, also sited the fact that social networking technologies can communicate to many students easily and quickly at almost no cost, which is important in a world with increasing budget pressures.
Steve Gatlin, founder of Gatlin International, an international leader in online learning, says his online course instructors are encouraged to use all means of digital correspondence to communicate with students.
“Effective communication is the key to lowering drop-out rates,” said Gatlin. “And, effective communication in this instance means communicating with the tools and platforms that students are most comfortable with. Online learners feel an ease and comfort level in using their social media sites to get pertinent course information.”