SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN OBJECT OF PEDAGOGICAL RESEARCH IN THE VOCATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to study the features of using social media as an effective means of organizing the educational process and to justify their role as an object of methodological analysis in the vocational education system.

Methodology. In the course of the study, general scientific and pedagogical methods were used, in particular, analysis of scientific literature and Internet sources covering the issues of social media use in the vocational education system; systematization and generalization of theoretical provisions, which made it possible to formulate conclusions regarding the organizational and methodological principles of social media implementation in the educational process.

The scientific novelty lies in clarifying the essence of the concept of “social media” and systematizing methodological approaches to studying social media in the vocational education system. The pedagogical possibilities of social media as a modern educational tool that contributes to the organization of the educational process, the development of professional and digital competencies of students, as well as the formation of critical thinking skills, responsible work with information, and educational communication have been identified.

Conclusions. The use of social media in vocational education contributes to the intensification of educational interaction and expands the opportunities for active participation of students in the educational process. Students acquire skills of independent search, evaluation, and analysis of information, effective communication, and collaborative work, which contributes to the formation of professionally significant competencies. The use of social media creates conditions for the implementation of individual and collective educational projects, the development of teamwork skills, the management of information flows, and the formation of responsibility for the quality of one's own educational and professional activities. The successful implementation of social media significantly increases the effectiveness of the professional training of students, contributes to the development of their critical thinking and digital competencies, and increases their ability to respond to the modern challenges and needs of society.