IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND GIRL CHILD IN EDUCATION PROCESS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
- Background of the Study
Technology in today’s evolving society has a wide range of uses, effects and influences on the society, which brings us to the usage of social media. The growth of social media over the past years has changed the ways in which the internet is experienced by most end users. Social media is built on the idea of how people know and interact with each other. It gives people the power to share, making the world more open and connected with each other. Social media has a vital influence on our lives as it helps a lot in very field such as political field, economic field and educational field.
The educational field is what our main focus will be on. Using of social media is not united only to professionals or elders but also it been widely used in educational sectors by the students, students usually use social site for many reason such as for study purpose, for entertainment purpose as social media provides any data you want very easily and quickly within a fraction of seconds. Usage of social media depends upon person to person as it has good as well as negative impact on the society i.e. on the students. Social media has become a major distraction to students, callings the overall performance to students to decline, especially the ones who tend to check their facebook and hoilter while studying.
They are extremely busy in accessing number of sites other than educational site for long hours which create a very negative impact on their mind as well as creates ample of health issues and also creating slit in the family. Students, who attempt to multi-task, checking social media sites while studying, show reduced academic performance. Their ability to concentrate on the task at hand is significantly reduced by the distraction that are brough about by YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram which are going to be our focus on the various examples of social media used in this analysis. There’s no denying that, ever since social networks and social media made way into our lives, everything is different. Beginning with the way we socialize, interact, plan for parties or even how often we go out. We won’t go into a debate regarding the ethical aspects of the way social media is influencing our lives rather it purposes to focus on the numerous ways in which social media is changing the way the education system works to find out what effects social media has on educating the young mind. The use of social media in education provides students with the ability to get more useful information, to connect with learning groups and other educational systems that make education convenient.
Social media tools afford students and institutions with multiple opportunities to improve learning methods. Through these networks, you can incorporate social media plugins that enable sharing and interaction. There is valuable knowledge to be gained through social media such as analytics and insights on various topics or issues for study purposes. Social media is also a medium where students can establish beneficial connections for their careers. As an educational institution, it is crucial to be active in many social platforms possible, this helps create better student training strategies and shape students culture. The advent of social media has impacted significantly on how students learn and the mode instructors teach. In today educational settings, social media is has influence instructors, students, and others to cooperate with each other on the tasks of knowledge construction in learning and teaching environments. Social media applications can strengthen class material and positively influence discussions collaborative work, and authoring. Educators and researchers are constantly experimenting with social media technologies hoping in stimulate critical thinking skills, collaboration, and knowledge construction (James). However, the fact that these media are generally open to the world implies a need to carefully consider its benefits; impacts and risks, of openness as well as need to address their concerns and deal with issues in the use of social media as the arise. According to Ellision et al., (2007) research results, it shows that students use social media only for fun, to have contact with friends, and to follow photos, videos, vents and etc. (Hitam and Idrus, 2004). Thus, it can be said that social media is rarely used for educational purpose. It appears therefore that social media fulfill it’s role as it was intended by its creators; to support social networks. Statistics show that women spend more time on social media than men, however, women use social media more effectively in most cases than men (Priestly, 2017).
A study of Hitam and Idrus (2014) revealed that women are more likely to engage in online communications to maintain personal connections and for learning preferences, whereas men use online communication for pursuing sexual interest and romance. As previously noted the use of social media really affects one’s life whether be it their social aspects, privacy, health, and performance in school. Girl child education on the other hand is a process in which the girl. Child is made functional members of her society to ensure they obtain the best learning experience. Enables them to get some vocational skills and break through economically (Abdulkarim & Mamman, 2014). Girl child education is the process through which the girl child is made not only functional members of her society but also productive members. It is a process through which the girl child acquires knowledge and realizes her potentialities and uses them for self-actualization, to be useful to her and others. It is a means of presenting, transmitting and improving the culture of the society. In every society education connotes acquisition of something good, something worthwhile (Ocho, 2005).
At every educational level, women have been recognized to perform well despite challenges. (Schacter, 2010) argued that children’s intelligence could be significantly influenced by environmental changes and that every childhood was a key to improving later performances in various aspects of the individual’s life.
In view of this, Stronguist (2000) maintain that girl child education involves equipping girls who later grow up to women with the knowledge, abilities and mental powers, with which they will be useful to themselves, the family and the society. Girl education helps girl take advantage of opportunity that could benefit them and their families, preparing girls who will be women for the labour force and helping them understand their legal as well as their reproductive rights. Basic education provides girls and women with an understanding of basic health, nutrition and family planning, growing their choices and the power to decide over own lives and bodies. Girl child education is not easy to come by as it is usually proclaimed as many impediments stand in the way of the girl child (Kasomo, 2009).
The rights of the girl child are always being denied and the denial leads to lack of access to education thus results in child labour, which deprives the girl child of her childhood potentials, dignity and joy. Thus agrees with Bolaji (2007) who noted that there is still gender inequality in terms of accessibility to education in many parts of Nigeria particularly the Northern State like Katsina, Kano, Bauchi, Jigawa and Akwa Ibom etc. subsequent to Bolaji (2007), Osinulu (1994) lamented that the girl child is discriminated against in terms of education and given out to marriage early thereby denying the girl the require competences for community development. The resultant effect of such discrimination is poverty and the only key to ending poverty among women-folk, as a whole is education of the girl child, (Kasomo, 2009). According to Ahmad and Najeemah (2013) one of the most important tools available to empower women within the family and within society is education as it contains cascade of benefits. The important of the girl child education cannot be over emphasized. It is a global human right concern demanding legislation across the nations of the world as girl child are discriminated against. They are victims of various traditional and cultural practices, they suffer degradation, they are objects of poverty, their faces are only to be seen but their voices not to be heard, they are seen as being sub-servant to their male counterparts; they are inferior set, their place is in the kitchen (Ahmad & Najeemah, 2013).
1.2 Statement of the Problem
With the explosive growth in the number and use of social media in everyday communication method for individuals and organizations, there has been a corresponding increase in its incorporation in teaching and learning in higher, tertiary, lower level institutions. In view of this, this study which also involves girl child education, negative and positive influence of technology study examines and asses the impact social media has on girl child education (teaching and learning) be it negative or positive impacts. The prime bad effects of social media are addition which is mostly affecting the girl child in education process.
Social media forms such as facebook, Twitter, instagram and YouTube which causes distractions to the girl child such as concentrating on studies, taking active ignoring ground realities. The impact of social media on girl child education are increasing rapidly they include. The popularity of social media, and the speed at which information is published, has created a lax attitude towards proper spelling and grammer. The reduced a student’s ability check features. Many students rely on the accessibility of information on social media and the web to provide answers. That means a reduced focus on learning and retaining information. The urban area has more risk of social media demerits while the rural area has more risk in back of girl child being educated.
The rural areas do not have opportunity of being enrolled into schools and the few that has such opportunity as children end up as school drop-outs or receive poor quality education for the girl child. These phenomena is unliked to the prevalence of extreme poverty, high level of ignorance and illiteracy among the rural populace, poor teaching and learning environment, inadequacy or lack of qualified teachers in the rural schools as well as lack of regular supervision of such schools. These among so many others are some of the problems encountered in the course of this study. It seeks to identify the possible relationship between technology (Social media) and educating the girl child in today’s society.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The aim of this research is to investigate the usage of social media and how its relates to the girl child. The study has the following objectives.
- To determine how information provided through twitter relate with girl child education
- To determine how information provided through facebook relate with girl child education
- To determine how information provided through whatsapp relate with girl child education
- To determine how information provided through instagram relate with girl child education
1.4 Research Questions
To guide the study, the following questions were raised.
- How do information provided through twitter relates to girl child education?
- Do any information provided through facebook relates to girl child education?
- How do information provided through whatsapp relates to girl child education?
- What information provided through instagram relates to girl child education?
1.5 Research Hypothesis
The following hypothesis are formulated to direct the study
- There’s no significant relationship between information provided through twitter and girl child education.
- There’s no significant relationship between information provided through Facebook and girl child education.
- There’s no significant relationship between information provided through whatsapp and girl child education.
- There’s no significant relationship between information provided through instagram and girl child education.
Facebook as a Learning Platform to Enhance Girl Child Education
With the widespread use of facebook in society it simply makes sense to work into ways it might be used in the classroom. When it comes to technology students are always eager to learn new skills in technology. A variety of studies on the use of facebook, however, indicates that there are a wide number of potential benefits to using facebook as an educational tool. There are four interrelated potential benefits.
- Creating a sense of community and promoting collaboration
- Enhancing communication between instructors and students.
- Developing computer literacy and language skills
- Incorporating current student culture into learning environment are explored. Facebook is particularly well suited for sharing and discussion of current events in the news.
Note that these benefits do not imply that facebook should be used primarily to deliver content, but it could be used supplementally to promote student reflection on content delivered through other teaching methods.
Creating Community/Promoting Collaboration
Some of the most obvious potential benefits to incorporating the use of facebook into the classroom stem from the basis that facebook is designed as a social networking site. For instructors who see teaching as establishing a relationship with students, facebook maybe an effective way to connect. The most common reason facebook users state for using the site is to connect with friends. Although users interact most frequently with those whom they already know, facebook can be used to extend their network to people in their classes whom they have not met previously.
Facebook can create a sense of community among users which can lead to greater collaboration and sharing of ideas that promote learning. Munoz and Towner (2011) refer to social constructionist learning theory, noting that learning is actively constructed by comparing material to what individuals already know. Thus the more opportunity for dialogue and sharing for ideas the more learning can take place. Through social platform such as this movements involving girl child education can be promoted by the community and outreaches can be conducted with help from the community and contributions from those from far and near. Information can be shared on matters involving various members of the society and acquire donations from various parts of the world.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The findings of this study is derived to the understanding of social media, it uses and impacts with most challenges faced through it’s use which will derive better usage and purpose of social media in education. The positive and negative impact through its use in the educational field by teachers and learners.
Subsequently, the findings from this study will aid better educational standards for the girl child and the benefits which are achieved through this means and eliminate factor militating against educating the girl child at all levels. It is also hoped that the study will be great relevance to students, researcher and student affairs practitioners and other bodies that come to play in the educational process and field of study.
1.7 Scope of the Study
The study is delimited to the effect and impact of social media and girl child in education process in secondary schools in Itu Local Government Area with particular references to the uses of social media in education, its impact and effects in student learning experience. The benefit of educating the girl child in our society irrespective of militating factors against it. Five (5) Senior Secondary in Itu Local Government Area will be used for the study.
1.8 Definition of Terms
The following concepts in the study are operationally defined
Technology: This is a body of knowledge devoted to creating tools, processing actions and the extracting of materials. The term “Technology” is wide, and everyone has their way of understanding it’s meaning. We use technology to accomplish various tasks in our dally lives, I brief; we can describe technology as products and processes used to simplify our daily lives. We use technology to extend our abilities, making people the most crucial part of any technological system, (Karchka Ramey, 2013).
Social Media: It is a computer-based technology that facilities the sharing of ideas and information and the building of virtual networks and communities.
Facebook: This is a free social networking web platform that promotes and facilitates interaction between friends, family and colleagues.
Whatsapp: It is a cross platform instant messaging application that allows smartphone users to exchange text, image, video and audio messages for communication.
Twitter: It is a social networking and micro-biology online service that allows users to send and receive text-based messages or posts of up to 140 characters called “tweets”.
Email: An email is a social platform that provides information to its users and allows easy communication through sending of mails from one destination to another.
Girl Child: A girl child is a female under aged 18.
Education: Education is a process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits.