Today’s guest post is an interesting point of view about how social media (SM) and video games can help teachers and students.  Of course, we at The Inspired Classroom believe firmly in making sure students of all ages are online and gaming with parental supervision and are monitored so that their screen time is limited each day.  However, there certainly can be benefits to working responsibly with and learning through these two venues.  It is our hope that this post also gets you ready for our focused blog series next month on technology in education.  And as always, we want to hear from you, so please add in your two cents in the comments!  Enjoy.  ~EMP

Many parents are hesitant to allow their children to use technology such as social networking and video games. Educators, however, are relying on these avenues of technology as an innovative way to create new learning environments and develop real life lesson plans. It turns out that there are many benefits of the use of social media and video games in a classroom setting. Here are some of the ways educators are able to use social media to benefit their students.

1. Teacher Student Communication

Social media is becoming increasingly important in schools. Educators are using social networking as a way to open the lines of communication between themselves and their students. This allows students to get the extra help and guidance they need to succeed.

2. Topic Exploration

Students who are interested in certain topics can use social media to connect with other students who share the same interests. In this ways, teachers who support the use of social media in the classroom are able to further the education of their students.

3. Online Collaboration

Students and teachers can work together to create classroom blogs, discussion forums and more. These online venues allow students and teachers to post and share projects, materials, and curriculum.

Social media has a very valid place in the modern classroom, with teachers and students relying on the internet and social media to learn and explore. Through the use of social media, teachers can nurture and promote the education of their students.

In addition to social media, teachers are also able to use the popular concept of video games in unique ways in the classroom. Here are some of the ways that video games can serve as teaching mechanisms.

Skill Building

Playing video games requires certain skills, and the skills that are developed through digital gaming can be applied directly to the classroom setting. These skills include information gathering, strategic thinking, basic problem solving, planning, and flexibility.

Social Learning

Teachers can use video games to encourage the development of social learning skills, including empathy, friendliness, teamwork, manners, and more. Children who have developed these social learning skills are likely to do better in a classroom setting.

Contrary to the belief of many parents, there are several ways in which video games and social media can be used as learning aides in the classroom. Children who play world-building games may even grow up to attend interior design colleges to become professional designers as a result of their gaming! Social networking and video games are the new textbooks, giving teachers the tools they need to teach every student.