Media is everywhere and it has become part of our daily lives, similar to knowledge (there’s always something more to know and learn), which plays an important role in our learning process. The media is a role model to the masses whereby its impact is felt on every section of society, both pre and post Internet.
Before things went viral online there were still campaigns, perhaps not as widespread as they are now but there were still ways of being culturally, socially and politically aware to injustices.
The media has highlighted the need for cultural diversity and the need of education whilst promoting media-consciousness throughout most individuals. A lot of formal (i.e. books) and informal (i.e. tv shows, advertisements) material is out there educating us. So it’s only natural that our well-being can be connected to the media and education, two factors of which a large number of people depend on.
There’s no doubt that media and education have a mutual relationship – education can be taught, updated and changed (or even ignored) through means of media and through media we can educate ourselves, either consciously or subconsciously.
Do you ever wonder where you learnt something? Like for example, a catchphrase, or a random fact and realised it’s something you have picked up because you had seen or heard it through the television, a movie or even online, like YouTube.
Social media can be a platform wherein we learn, which can be enjoyable, by ourselves or with others through websites, apps and discussions (which can be virtual e.g. in a forum). However, often enough we do lose ourselves and our time by being immersed in either futile or useful activities.
The media can unfortunately take over our lives physically and psychologically so that we edit, update and remove our identities to become more ‘popular’ with the millions of likes, retweets and shares that are on a pedestal to achieve.
The media has given a new meaning to education with social media being embedded into the student life. There’s no doubt that students are actively engaged on online platforms and can be productive. Nowadays you need to be social media savvy so you can connect to potential employers e.g. LinkedIn, and it makes sense for educators to talk to students through online means as this is where they already spend most of their time inhabiting.
However for many students, social media can also help be a means of procrastination. A way to distract ourselves from the revising, or answering the practice questions you are supposed to be doing or planning for that essay you have been putting off until the last minute. You also find others online doing the same thing so there is a sense of community, making it “okay” to be doing it.
Pressures from family and peers, as well as social media can affect one’s educational outlook and outcome, because there is a relationship between stress and illness. Education is one area that relies on stress or perceived stress. Sometimes this can be the means for an individual to push themselves to do their best in a positive manner, but it can also be counterproductive. Due to the physiological processes entailed, prolonged stress can have devastating effect on the mind and body.
As September begins and a new academic year commences, which route will you be taking to kick start your journey?
Feel free to also drop your feels and experiences regarding #CopingWithEducation on social media with that hashtag!
