Useful Social Media Tools for Education
There are plenty of social media platforms available where we can connect and interact with each other for free. Users are freely using all the services and in return, they are providing various kinds of information to the social media platform. There are plenty of mobile — web applications available. Users can use all these applications and provide teaching-learning scenarios for teachers and students. The role of social media in education is to connect students with more information beyond the boundaries of the classroom which is affordable for students and institutions to get multiple opportunities in learning. Through Social media, the world has become a classroom at home. Any time at any place anyone can get access to the lectures delivered by universities abroad through a wide array of platforms like YouTube, Skype, and Online Courses, etc. Despite having innumerable benefits, people are still lacking in applying such advancements for the betterment of education and learning. Here is the list of such tools through which one can make learning more captivating rather than using paper-based benchmarks.
1) About.me: If a person has not had a professional website, don’t worry!! Here is the one-page solution of what recruiters want from a candidate. About. me is the one-page profile containing the list of all social media sites of a user with a summary. It is like an online business card that enhances the efforts to create a personal brand. One can upload the publications, links of videos resumes, and other important documents related to the personal and professional profile. With the increasing awareness of the different social media platforms, people become more attractive to be present on each of them however it becomes arduous to keep one for all. About.me is extensively used for its simplicity in giving the abbreviated autobiography of the candidate to the outer world which showcases which social media sites the candidate is using with the direct links on the page.
2) Academia.edu: This is the social media site for academics that allows academicians, students, and research scholars to get connected in the relevant fields of subjects. Further, it allows sharing the research papers, articles, projects, books, etc. For scholars from any research background, it is the place to share and follow the research and researchers from the relevant field. It is a very refreshing and useful tool for students around the world. To showcase the publication in such sites is very important to have a good academic career. However, it may charge some fees to upload the research or new content as the founders of academia.edu are shifting their business model from free versions to advanced paid versions.
3) Grademiners: Grademiners are customized academic writing services providers for students all over the world. It is a team of active professionals to assist the students in writing essays, thesis, research papers, projects, and much more. The writers own relevant experience in writing with different academic achievements. The students can get professional guidance in writing a part of a project or a thesis with the competitive pricing they have an edge in academic writing services among others.
4) Altmetric: The questions that researchers can start thinking about are; who is engaging with our work? Are we having an impact? How can we improve? Altmetric is a powerful tool that provides evidence of where books, articles, data analysis software, publications, and many other types of research are being used by diverse students or policymakers worldwide. Altmetric is a data source of the discussion happening online of the research published. People worldwide are using different web platforms to communicate more research which is being shared, discussed, read, recommended, and reviewed online. It tracks all social media forums, public policy documents, news articles, research blogs, and many more- different flavors of attention where this work is being utilized and discussed.
5) Amazon Author Central: Amazon is often referred to as a giant of the expert database in books and considered the number one platform for bestselling authors. The tool from Amazon allows authors to update, edit and share the list of books written on one page with the name of the author that would boost the brand and helps to make money. It provides a great-looking author page where anyone can find a book with just the name of the author or ISSN number. Amazon gives the privilege to authors to add or update their biography with the introduction, video content, multimedia, blog feed, etc.
6) AutoCollage: Teaching has many varied techniques to apply nowadays. Teaching techniques have been uplifted in various ways which manifold diverse techniques, applications, and software to make the subject more interesting and easily understandable. Microsoft tool used for teaching by creating a collage of several images at a time by faces and objects recognition. It gathers the selection of photos and knits them together seamlessly to produce eye-catching collages. It makes the presentation more visionary at the time of teaching or presenting.
7) DropBox: Emerging platforms like Google docs, sheets are widely used for live sharing and live editing to work live together which may not always be optimal for your business and the task that you’re enrolled in. The day to day operations of an individual includes sharing of large photo or maybe any large file which should not consume the space of the PC or mobile or laptop. This is where Dropbox comes in. DropBox is a platform used especially to share and store large files and it’s available for PC, Desktop, Mac, and a mobile version; one can share a drop Box to the phone. Ultimately, the DropBox is a Digital Box where one can store files, documents, photographs, etc. Anyone can get access to the DropBox who is logged in by permission to download and to see the stored files and another database. The free account of drop Box allows the users to use the space around 2 GB.
8) Emaze: Emaze is an internet-based tool that is used to create, share and explore new presentations where users can create presentations online similar to PowerPoint. These are the next-generation presentation tools used over and above power Point, Key Note, and other similar presentation Tools with free account benefits. Additionally, it provides endless user-generated presentations, animated templates, and design options. These free app-based software are progenitive to present ideas and projects attractively.
9) EndNote: EndNote is a reference management tool with the desktop as well as an online platform to create-save the references and to generate bibliographies. EndNote enables to change of the citation style that is preferable to add in the research paper or essay. Additionally, it automatically syncs its library and works across devices and platforms.
10) Evernote: Evernote is a well-organized web-based application that is more like a traditional notebook used with any device at any time. One can create, maintain and update separate notes and Notebooks with different folders for the different subject matter. It brings forth separate pages for every notebook to save and upload files and notes. One can import files, photos, and documents and in the note digitally accessed via mobile devices too. With the basic free plan, the features of Evernote are very beneficial for all who want to organize notes online.
11) Google Drive: The storage-based services are provided by Google are through Google Drive. Google Drive is a cloud-based storage solution that allows users to save and access any document any time from any device just by using ID credentials. With the easy interface, the features of the drive are compatible with Microsoft office; one can create docs, sheets, and slides on the platform with diverse templates. This is one of the most useful tools which provide 15GB storage for free and enable multiple users to work together on a live stream with shared files.
12) Kahoot: To unleash the fun while learning is the key concept of Kahoot. This is the Game-based learning software app that makes it easy to create, share and play learning games which includes multiple-choice quizzes, Puzzles via a web browser or app. A game-based classroom response system is user-generated and played in real-time by students. Fostering a more positive learning environment with fun, Kahoot has improved classroom dynamics with healthy competition among students; according to several studies done in academics.
13) Prezi: Presenting a slide or sharing slides through PowerPoint is a very convenient technique of communication in this digital era of today. Prezi is a virual presentation software. It makes videos and Communication tools better by making the presence of the presenter. Video of the presenter while presenting allows the presenter to do things one can’t do at in-person meetings. Going from fatigue to engagement is the best part of Prezi’s tool for better reach to the audience.
14) Quora: “Ask what you want to know and share what you already know!” An online community of people provides a free opportunity to gain and share knowledge in any subject by connecting with the people on the digital platform. People around the world ask questions to get answers from the community of people who answer them. One can find more suggestive and advising answers in the Quora as compared to the Google Search based on the knowledge, information, or experience of the person replying to the question
15) Skype: Getting connected with the world is easy in this digital world with several applications and software available in the front line for Educational, Individual, or Business purposes. Skype is a free tool people use to make the conversation better, instant, and free. Millions of businesses and individuals get interacted by sending instant messages, video, and voice one-to-one call, group calls, sharing files by using mobile, computer, or tablet. The tool is free and easy to use through premium features that can be subscribed with paid versions.
16) Ustream: The members of the Ustream can broadcast live streaming videos on the internet. A web streaming platform continues to grow as Businesses, associations, colleges, and universities add live platforms for meetings, product launches, brand announcements, trade shows, concerts, live lectures, or any virtual events. Ustream provides a unique destination for an entire audience. Ustream lets users broadcast the channels of the member on third-party websites such as Facebook or Myspace.
Take-Home: “We don’t have a choice on whether we DO social media, the question is how well we DO IT.” — Erik Qualman
