Collaborative learning is a critical component of higher education, as it encourages students to work together to solve problems, complete projects, and develop new ideas. Social media platforms are ideal for facilitating this type of learning. Social media has revolutionised how people communicate, share information, and engage with content. Higher education offers a unique opportunity to enhance learning experiences, foster collaboration, and build communities The Role of Social Media in Higher Education One of the key advantages of using social media in higher education is its ability to enhance student engagement. Social media platforms encourage active participation, allowing students to contribute to discussions, share insights, and interact with peers and instructors in real time (Greenhow & Lewin, 2018). Social media platforms provide an interactive environment where students and educators can share ideas, resources, and knowledge beyond the traditional classroom setting. This level of engagement can lead to a deeper understanding of course material and promote critical thinking (Greenhow & Lewin, 2018). For instance, X, formerly known as Twitter, can be used to facilitate class discussions or live tweets during lectures. Instructors can post questions or prompts, and students can respond with their thoughts, creating a dynamic conversation that extends beyond the classroom walls. Similarly, Facebook groups can be set up for classes, enabling students to share articles, videos, and other resources related to the course content (Chugh & Ruhi, 2018). This not only keeps students engaged but also fosters a sense of community within the class. Equally important, collaborative learning is a critical component of higher education, as it encourages students to work together to solve problems, complete projects, and develop new ideas. Social media platforms are ideal for facilitating this type of learning, as they provide tools for communication, file sharing, and project management (Ansari & Khan, 2020). For example, Google Drive and Google Docs, Introduction Social media has revolutionised how people communicate, share information, and engage with content. Higher education offers a unique opportunity to enhance learning experiences, foster collaboration, and build communities (Ansari & Khan, 2020). However, universities have been, for the most part, hesitant to adopt and incorporate social media into the teaching and learning processes. This is largely due to the volatile nature of social media platforms and the lack of due diligence in ensuring that information shared online is factual. On a number of occasions, false news and unsubstantiated claims and statements have been widely shared on social media to the detriment of innocent victims. To protect their prestige and clean images, universities have cautiously made use of social media sparingly (Chugh & Ruhi, 2018). Despite the challenges, social media has the potential to play an important role in higher education if used effectively. Teaching Innovation for the 21st Century | Showcasing UJ Teaching Innovation Projects 2024 82
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