@article {9171244020131001, title = {Exploring the Potential Benefits of Using Social Media in Education.}, journal = {International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy}, volume = {3}, number = {4}, year = {2013}, pages = {50 - 53}, abstract = {The objective of this work is to investigate the potential benefits of using social media in education. A thorough examination of a large set of these online tools has revealed that social media have many educational advantages. In fact, it has been found out that these web-based applications can improve communication among students and between teachers and students. Thanks to these technologies, both teachers and students can interact with each other in a matter of seconds. Social media can also be used to promote students{\textquoteright} engagement. Students who often complain of being intimidated or bored in the classroom may feel comfortable to express their creativity and voice their opinion on a social network website. Another finding of this study is that social media applications foster collaboration as they allow students to work together to achieve a common goal. Given these educational benefits, we recommend that these online social tools should be used in learning environments. [ABSTRACT}, keywords = {Benefits, collaboration, communication, Computer assisted instruction, education, engagement, Internet in education, Online social networks, social media, Social networks, Teaching aids \& devices}, issn = {21924880}, url = {http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true\&db=iih\&AN=91712440\&site=ehost-live}, author = {Faizi, Rdouan and El Afia, Abdellatif and Chiheb, Raddouane} }