Access to Educational Information through Digital Technology

Education and Social Media

Laura Gates

Social Media and Human Interaction

Social Media has changed how we learn and communicate with others.

In 2011, Pew found that 65% of adult internet users used social media and social networking. Older users such as Seniors also were

found to be using social media more than ever before.

In 2013, Pew found that 83% of internet users under the age of 50, accessed social media on a regular basis.

Pew’s 2013 Social Media Demographic Breakdown

Social Media and Education

YouTube, Hulu, and Vimeo have become popular social media sites that focus in sharing video and media.

Video sharing sites, specifically YouTube, have the potential to become the Wikipedia of Video Sharing. Video Lectures

Educational Information

Open Sourcing

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Course)

Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998

In 2006, Google purchased YouTube for $1.65 Billion.

In 2007, YouTube faced a copyright infringement suit with Viacom. Suit tested the Digital Millennium

Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA).

YouTube and DMCA

YouTube argued that it was well within DMCA’s Safe Harbor protections. Under DMCA, as long as a website that hosted User-Generated Content was able to filter and

remove infringed content, they cannot be sued because of the Safe Harbor exemptions of DMCA.

YouTube was not liable for User-Generated Content that was found to be in copyright violation. YouTube was working with Google to create a filter to remove infringing content.

Viacom vs. YouTube Results

In 2010, YouTube was found to be well within DMCA regulations and won the suit against Viacom

In April 2013, YouTube’s original verdict was held when Viacom sought the case again in Federal Appeals Court.

Repercussions on Education

Without YouTube’s victory, we would not see a variety User-Generated Content on YouTube.

If Viacom won: Textbook companies could have followed

in Viacom’s footsteps

Professors could file for suit for violations of intellectual property.

Recorded lectures published by students, faculty, or the university could be taken down.

Less online educational options

University of Maryland’s YouTube Channel

Public Schools and YouTube

Public School Teachers want to use YouTube Many schools currently block access to all

social media due to the Children’s Internet Protection Law of 2000 (CIPA)

Teachers find a way to work around the current system

“I’ve tried opening the window and loading the video on a laptop, or bringing a video in on my phone — or just asking the kids in my class, because there’s always some proxy hack site that a student will know how to use” (Strom, 2012)

YouTube and Public Schools

YouTubeEDU allows access to educational information that is safe for classroom use Comments are removed

Resources are vetted

Teacher Reviewed

Currently being piloted in Chicago Public Schools

School Systems say “NO” to YouTubeEDU

School Systems are worried about loosing federal funding for telecommunications and technology if they allow a “clean” version of YouTube past their internet Filters

Adhering to CIPA directly correlates with federal funding

Even though school systems are hesitant about accepting YouTubeEDU teachers and administrators are still hopeful for a change

YouTube and Higher Education

University channels active on YouTube since 2008.

Some education videos have hit over a million hits, some before their university channel was formed.

Content can be difficult to find Difficult to search by professor or class

YouTube and Higher Education

Pearson Education Inc. and Babson Survey Research Group, examined University Faculty’ awareness and use of Social Media in 2011 90% of the faculty polled considered

themselves very familiar with social media.

YouTube and Facebook were the top two sites used

over 40% of all social media accessed in a professional (classroom) setting was YouTube.

Teaching, Learning, and Sharing: How Today's Higher Education Faculty Use Social Media (2011)

YouTube and Higher Education

Online courses had a higher rate of social media use than in-person classes

YouTube is viewed as a popular resource tool free of budget constraints.

Many organizations have YouTube Channels American Red Cross

CDC

FEMA

Teaching, Learning, and Sharing: How Today's Higher Education Faculty Use Social Media (2011)

YouTube and Medical Education

Medical Education has embraced YouTube. Students can gain knowledge of new

technologies

Exposure to specialties

Collaboration activities in the classroom

Exploration of new techniques

Professional Development

Roll-playing

YouTube and Medical Education

Medical Schools and Academic Journals often have their own YouTube Channels Students can watch actual procedures

Students can discuss new technologies and techniques

Practice skills without seeing a patient

Research and Findings

62 people surveyed 33 males

29 females

Ages 10-50 Participant statistics aligned with Pew’s

2010 and 2013 published surveys on social media

Majority of participants were aged 23-29 years Most held masters degrees

Research and Findings

78% of participants used either YouTube or Khan Academy

68% of participants had viewed a video with an anonymous affiliation

92% of participants agreed that academic and professional videos should be trusted as a reliable educational resource

Research and Findings

47% searched for science topics most frequently

23% searched for humanities

23% for Math, Art and Music, and Other

2% did not watch academic videos

Accessibility: Participant Feedback

“Some sort of online compendium on different topics that is well sorted with good authors.”

“Google Scholar but for videos, where video sources are vetted for legitimacy”

“An option in advanced search for academic videos or videos submitted by academic institutions”

Conclusions

Educational information and digital technology is being accepted in social media communities.

Higher Education and Medical Education have accepted YouTube into the classroom.

Students are exposed to new technologies, discussion topics, and collaborative opportunities.

Teachers accept the use of social media and do incorporate it into their classrooms.

Public schools want to use social media but face many legal and policy restrictions at the federal and state levels.

Extensions and Future Research

Larger sampling sizes and more detailed survey questions

Google continue to improve YouTube’s educational access for schools

Social media tools developed specifically for schools “connected learning”