Social media 'can be used to teach children'

13:30 15th February 2010

Social media can be used in schools to help teach children, it has been stated.

Andrew Davis, social media consultant and blogger, said the internet has affected the way schoolchildren focus their attention, which means social media could be used as a learning aid.

Mr Davis, who is piloting a GCSE Social Media and English course, stated that a new way of teaching traditional subjects was required.

He said: "If teachers are finding that students are reluctant to read books then an idea of creating blogs with short form content that has what is needed to help pass a subject may be of use."

Mr Davis added that social media websites such as Google Buzz, Facebook and Twitter enjoy popularity with schoolchildren because of their short status updates.

He said people tend to read in short fixes when they use the internet.

Mr Davis's GCSE in social media has helped to improve the grades of some children from a borderline C or D grade to an A, with every student on the course achieving at least a grade C.

A recent poll by supermarket chain Tesco found teenagers only use around 800 different words each day.

The study suggested that youngsters have a varied vocabulary, but they rely upon the same words on a daily basis.