Incorporating Modern Social Media into the Classroom to Enhance Students' Conceptual Understanding in Science Education: A Quasi- Experimental Study

Abstract

The digital age has significantly transformed information dissemination, positioning modern social media as a key platform for student engagement in educational contexts. Despite its advantages, the diverse, informal, and interdisciplinary nature of modern social media content presents cognitive challenges for students. This study proposes an approach to integrating modern social media as a pedagogical tool by utilizing its contemporary features to develop a comprehensive instructional Strategyfor teaching scientific concepts. The model aims to guide students in critically examining diverse modern social media perspectives through a sociological lens. It facilitates the acquisition of solid scientific concepts, enhancement of critical thinking skills, and accurate interpretation of modern social media narratives via independent inquiry, evaluation of scientific evidence, and perspective reframing. The study employed a quasi-experimental design in four middle school classes, comprising an intervention group (N=44) and a control group (N=52). Results revealed a significant positive effect of the model on students' conceptual understanding and reasoning skills.