Introduction

Doreen Moran (2011) suggests that social media is a collection of online platforms that people use to share content, profiles, opinions, insights, experiences, perspectives and media itself, while facilitating conversations and interactions online between groups of people. Social media enriches the educational learning cycle by allowing students and teachers to connect and interact in exciting ways. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram provide a platform where users can communicate, exchange ideas, and find answers to questions. These sites are designed to foster collaboration and discussion; however, there can be pitfalls if they are not managed or monitored properly.

In order to counter the negative impacts of navigating social networks in an educational environment, facilitators must routinely monitor the established social media forum and model appropriate use to prevent misconduct and/or possible cyberbullying from occurring. When proper professional development is provided for educators and expectations are established for students, social media offers positive opportunities for students to learn interactively through the use of technology.

Social media provides students with the ability of becoming actively engage in their learning process while connecting with peers, teachers, as well as classrooms and students around the world. This research project will explore methods in increasing positive use of social media and the best practice approaches of navigating the negative impacts of social media for student learning.