Abstract

Social media tools are rapidly changing the communications landscape, Their emergence has impacted significantly how students learn and the way instructors teach. In today higher education settings, instructors, students and others collaborate on the tasks of knowledge construction.

The definition of social media is “the relationships that exist between network of people” [Walter & Riviera, 2004]. In the last ten years, the online world has changed dramatically.  Thanks to the invention of social media, young men and women now exchange ideas, feelings, personal information, pictures and videos at a truly astonishing rate.

The influence of social media on teaching and learning environment is growing every year and its applications can reinforce class materials, positively influenced discussions, collaborative work, etc. The educators and researchers experimenting the social media technologies to stimulate collaboration, knowledge constructions and thinking skills.

This paper focuses on the broad picture of social media and the social factors affecting influence academic performance, a few students’ opinions on social media, and social media as a learning tool for the teaching professionals and for students.

Key words:- Social media, students’ performance, learning tools, influence, academic performance, broad picture, students’ opinions.