The Role of Social Media in Encouraging Student Engagement: A Case Study in Senior High School

Abstract

Social media has become a part of human life today. In school learning, teachers also use social media to teach, such as Whats App, Youtube, and Instagram. Many students also rely on social media to find literacy and sources of answers at school. The objective of this study is 1) to find out the role of social media in encouraging student engagement in high school 2) to find the positive and negative impacts of social media use on student engagement in education. This research was conducted on Tuesday, October 12 2024 at SMK II Kutoarjo. There were 25 students and 5 teachers at SMK II Kutoarjo participated in this research. This research used qualitative method. The researcher collected the data through a questionnaire and interviews. The results showed that 80% of students found it easier to access information and help from classmates through social media. They felt that the use of social media increased their motivation to learn. They stated that the interactions that occur on social media platforms make the learning process more interesting and enjoyable. Meanwhile, 20% of students indicated that social media is sometimes a source of distraction in learning. Some teachers interviewed stated that social media provides an opportunity to expand student engagement beyond the classroom. They noted that students who were previously less active in class discussions became more vocal when speaking through social media.