THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SOCIAL STUDIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This study investigated the influence of social media in the teaching and learning of Social Studies education among secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. Four research questions were raised to guide the study. The descriptive survey design was used in conducting the study. A total of one hundred and thirty-five (135) respondents were selected from 14 public secondary schools in Egoh Local Government Area of Edo State, using convenience sampling technique. The major instrument used for this study was the questionnaire. The data collected were analysed using frequency count, simple percentage, mean and standard deviation. Findings of the study revealed that secondary school students moderately utilize social media platforms for Social Studies education in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. It was also showed that students derived a lot of benefits from using social media in the teaching and learning of social studies education in secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. The findings also point out that secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State face several challenges when using social media for Social Studies education. It was further revealed that teachers have a positive perceptions regarding the effectiveness of social media in teaching and learning social studies in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should provide professional development on how to effectively integrate social media into social studies instruction, including strategies for; curating reliable and age-appropriate resources; cacilitating online discussions and collaborations; promoting critical thinking and media literacy; and addressing issues of misinformation and bias. Also teachers should encourage parents to be involved in their children's online learning and to have conversations about responsible social media use.