Social Networking Benefits for Students

Being a first year student at Swansea Metropolitan University I have had to adapt to a lifestyle of being independent in many areas such as everyday activities like cooking and cleaning, doing my own washing, and also with work. Coming from a loud family of five to an even louder family of over fifteen students living in halls, I feel I have adapted quite well! It was very surprising to myself how quickly friendships are made and how little at first I missed my family whilst enjoying the start of university, including freshers week and meeting many new faces. As weeks and now months have gone by the missing of my friends and family began to grow but I found that with the use of technology and social networking I can keep up to date with what they are all up to on a daily basis.
Having an iPhone has been an essential item of my everyday life, with the countless number of applications available to download, I can have everything I need all in one space. With regards to keeping in contact with my friends and family social networking apps have enabled this, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp and iPhones own iMessage and access to e-mail.

Facebook in paticular has actually benefited myself largely with my studies, studying Education Studies, a group profile has been created on Facebook for members of my course to join and discuss work, deadlines, homework, and to generally offer help towards each other on anything anyone has some difficulty with.
During a few lectures we have also been encouraged to get out our iPhones, tablets or iPads out to use the website www.wikispaces.com which allows for a live chat to be taking place throughout the lecture where students may share their ideas and opinions on certain topics. 

www.edweek.org