A new study reported that faculty members are much more at ease with using social media,
but remain suspicious of it in their classrooms. A survey of 8,000 faculty
members, conducted by Babson Research Group and Pearson, found more than half
of the respondents used social media sites in their professional lives, a 10%
increase over 2012, and more than 70% used it for personal purposes.
At the same time, 60% said online and mobile
technologies can enhance learning and more than 75% said communications with
their students have increased through the use of social media. However, just
41% said they use it in their classroom.
The report also found that privacy and integrity of
student submissions have been the top concerns since 2011, yet an increasing
number of educators report they are finding more ways to use social technologies
to engage their students.
“The concern with the barriers remains fairly high, but
the faculty are figuring out ways they can get around those barriers,” Jeff
Seaman, co-director of Babson Survey Research Group, said in a report in
eCampus News.
“Perhaps they are not using it as widely or universally as they might be
without those concerns, but they are finding ways in which they can adapt it in
particular slivers.”