Digital media at school

Digital media at school

German schools are very inconsistently equipped with digital media. While in one school there are already so-called whiteboards in every classroom, other schools do not have enough computers to teach several classes at the same time. But computers and whiteboards are not all that the magic box of digital media has to offer for students and teachers. Especially through distance learning during the corona pandemic, new concepts have been established.

E-Learning and E-Teaching

One of these concepts is e-learning. Undoubtedly, it is not a new invention and even before the pandemic, companies and schools relied on so-called e-learning (in the long form also electronic learning). Exactly, this refers to learning methods that are supported in some form by digital media and devices. This can be learning on the basis of electronic teaching materials, but also a PowerPoint presentation on a topic or a digital meeting via a video platform. Other terms used in a similar context include online learning or media learning.

E-learning can take different forms that differ from each other. Virtual teaching is particularly widespread at distance learning universities and, most recently, at schools and universities during the corona pandemic. This is a concept that does not rely on presence, but conveys content almost exclusively online and digitally. This form is often characterized by interactive features such as chat rooms or platforms through which content can be uploaded. One of these platforms that supports this teaching is Moodle, which is used by schools and universities alike.

In so-called blended learning, the positive features of digital teaching and face-to-face teaching are combined. It thus consists of an interactive concept that integrates face-to-face workshops or the like in addition to digital events. Due to constant developments and media pedagogical research, new concepts are constantly emerging, so that only a few can be mentioned here as examples.

While e-learning usually refers to the side of the recipient, i.e. the pupil or student, e-teaching is the corresponding term for the page that conveys the information. These can be, for example, teachers or lecturers. They create the content that can be developed during e-learning. However, the demarcation of the terms from each other cannot always be clearly separated, since teachers can also act as e-learners in dealing with digital media, but also students, among other things, act as e-teachers by creating a presentation and uploading it.

Learning and teaching with social media

Nowadays, when we think of social media or social media , we certainly first have platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or similar media giants in mind. Basically, social media refer to digital platforms that connect people with each other and enable communication. The most important feature is the interaction already explained above, which is also a decisive criterion for e-learning concepts. This makes it clear that social media is an important tool that enables e-learning. But how exactly can they be used and what social functions can the digital world fulfil in relation to a face-to-face meeting?

Social media for students

Social contacts are particularly important at school. These have both a personality-shaping and a pedagogical function. Because when people come together, exchange ideas with each other, introduce each other to something or ask something, they reflect their own knowledge and non-knowledge in equal measure. In addition, the fun of learning is also anchored in the interaction, which is reflected in the school environment, especially in group work or discussions.

Social media are now trying to transfer these characteristics into the digital world. They offer students the opportunity to communicate with each other. For this purpose, the chat function is suitable, in which you can communicate with each other. This makes it possible to ask questions and discuss. Users often have the opportunity to specifically select the addressee of the message. Thus, a question can be addressed to a classmate, only to the teacher or to the entire virtual classroom. When a lesson is delivered via social media, other characteristics also emerge. While an hour in the classroom is usually one-time, a virtual lesson can be recorded and made available to students for rework. In addition, other digital media can be used to illustrate the content . In addition to a green board, videos can be shown, comments can be played or graphics can be created easily and effortlessly.

It also often happens that students join a digital network for secondary purposes. Even if the lessons take place on site in the classroom, students often create chat groups in which they can exchange ideas with each other about the content of the lesson or the formalities such as homework. This is due to the intense media socialization that children and adolescents are subject to today.

Social Media for Teachers

In addition to the students, the teachers can also network with each other and support teaching through social media. Three groups of people in particular are relevant target groups for communication via special platforms: pupils, teachers and parents. Each addressee has special functions. While the exchange between teachers is a social and non-hierarchical interaction, communication with students primarily fulfils a pedagogical function that is modelled on that in the classroom. Feedback discussions between teachers and parents via social media are much easier than at classic parent consultation days. However, it is important that teachers always fulfil a professional function when using social media in the context of school and teaching. The boundary becomes difficult when private profiles are found in social networks about teachers of students and a private exchange, even if only one-sided, arises, as this endangers a professional relationship.

Especially the networking with other teachers or pedagogical specialists offers ideal opportunities to expand one’s own competences. Especially in the digital world, there are large differences in knowledge between the generations. While some have already grown up with smartphones, others find it difficult to operate a laptop. Through the network, support can be offered here. In addition, a protected digital space is created that enables specialist discussions . These approaches have already been taken up in research, which sees opportunities in the use of digital and social media in and around teaching.