The role of social media in higher education classes (real and virtual) – A literature review

The ubiquity of social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) is no more apparent than at the university. Social media are increasingly visible in higher education settings as instructors look to technology to mediate and enhance their instruction as well as promote active learning for students. Many scholars argue for the purposeful integration of social media as an educational tool. Empirical evidence, however, has lagged in supporting the claim. Most of the existing research on the utility and effectiveness of social media in the higher education class is limited to self-reported data (e.g., surveys, questionnaires) and content analyses. This paper summarizes the scholarly writings as well as reviews the findings of empirical investigations. Some limitations are discussed, and future areas of research are proposed.

► Scholars argue for the integration of social media as an educational tool in the college classroom.
► Empirical evidence, however, has lagged in supporting the claim.
► Data is limited mainly to self-reports and content analyses.
► Limitations are discussed, and future areas of research are proposed.