Category: Social Media

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Why Do Teenagers Cyberbully Themselves?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Bullying has existed even before the internet, its impact has increased with the emergence of online communities

Over the past few years, where the internet makes distance learning and connectivity possible during catastrophic times like the present pandemic. However, the other side of the coin has a potentially harmful effect especially on teenagers, from the proliferation of fake news to online harassment. We have seen a massive increase in cyber abuse cases in India and Pakistan since the COVID-19 closure. Alone Pakistan has a tremendous 189% increase in cyber-harassment cases since April 2020. But these numbers are related to the victims who are virtually harassed by someone else, who might be known or unknown to them. What if the victim and the abuser would be the same?

Studies show that 13 percent to 18 percent of distressed teens physically injure themselves via cutting, burning or other forms of self-harm to cope with their pain. However, recent researches suggest that teenagers are now engaging in a newer form of self-aggression – Self-Cyberbullying. Digital Self-Harm is not a recent phenomenon, over the years the tendency of sending rude comments to themselves by teenagers over social media sites have increased rapidly. Continue reading “Why Do Teenagers Cyberbully Themselves?” →

11 Interactive Tools for Teaching in Virtual Learning Environment

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

11 Interactive Tools for Teaching in Virtual Learning Environment

In the outbreak of a contagious pandemic, online teaching and learning become the significant educational need of the time. To reduce social contact and the spread of Covid-19, education facilities around the world are moving their instruction online. However, this drastic change also brings new challenges for academia and teaching at large. The teaching in a virtual environment is way different than a four-walled classroom teaching. Collaborative and kinaesthetic activities that teachers usually include in their lesson plans do not work in a virtual classroom. According to a survey made in March 2020 by UIO, about 74% of teachers finds that the overall transition from traditional teaching to digitization is difficult or tough due to several challenges. The top among the list is technological challenges that include digital overload, pedagogical insecurity and learning new educational technologies. Continue reading “11 Interactive Tools for Teaching in Virtual Learning Environment” →

Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine

It’s been two weeks since the closure of schools and educational institutes resulting teachers to work from home and teaching students virtually. So far, the commencement of educational institutes is not certain and we also have been advised to stay at home to stop spreading the virus. Schools and teachers are scrambling to get their courses online so that students can continue their education without interruption. However, where teachers are struggling to keep the dice rolling virtually with their students, the parents, on the other hand, are burdened with their sudden responsibility of their kid’s homeschooling. Especially those parents who are also working from home, it becomes challenging for them to minimise the boredom of their kids while completing their office tasks on a daily basis. Last week, even some parents texted me sharing their concerns on how to cope with their kids’ boredom at home without disrupting their daily routine.

Whether you are a parent whose job is letting you work remotely, or you’re missing work entirely and have to look after your kids, the pandemic is likely disrupting your routine and leaving you with a young scholar to watch after and guide. However, situations vary as some kids would no doubt be more than happy to spend the entire day playing PUBG or CS: Go and watching TikTok dance challenges. And then some kids give a tough time to their parents asking questions which are difficult for parents to answer. Moreover, parents whose kids are spending the whole day in front of a computer screen are also concern about their health and routine. Continue reading “Corona Closure: How Parents Can Cope Children During Quarantine” →

How Learning Is Shaping in Schools Across the World Amid Coronavirus Closure

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

How Learning Is Shaping in Schools Across the World Amid Coronavirus Closure

So, it’s happening. Schools and colleges are now closed in countries like Pakistan and India due to the outbreak of Coronavirus. Yesterday one of my students texts me ‘Sir when our classes will be commencing? And do we have our final exams?’ Similar, questions are asked by parents as well. Everybody is now concern about the recent educational disruption that is happening in different countries, and nobody knows the deadline for this disruption. The question is, how students can continue their education amid such pandemic emergencies, and what role does parent should play in it? Continue reading “How Learning Is Shaping in Schools Across the World Amid Coronavirus Closure” →

5 More Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 2)

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

5 More Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 2)
By Ahmad Amirali

In my previous post, 5 Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 1), I shared 5 ways through which I used social media to involve and engage my students with the lesson. In this post, I will share 5 more ideas of creative use of social media in the classroom. However, before discussing these ideas, I would like to share and answer some of the concerns my colleagues asked me about using social media in the classroom. Their queries helped me to understand better why some teachers feel reluctant to use technologies in their classrooms and believe me, this behaviour shows the level of vigilance and cautiousness teachers follow while planning their lessons.

Question 1: How the use of social media helped student’s participation?

Nowadays, social media now become an essential tool/activity for every individual, including our students. These platforms encourage students who do not usually participate actively in the classroom to participate in their own way. Continue reading “5 More Ways to Use Social Media in Classrooms (Session 2)” →