Strengths in Using Social Media Facebook as an Educational Technology

Abstract

Though the social media Facebook was not originally an educational technology, its innovative use in teaching and learning may be the only e-learning experience students and teachers in resource-poor areas may have. Also it minimizes the extent to which Facebook distracts students, solving this problem that plagues higher education g;obally. Amidst peculiar challenges (poor technology skills, low-speed and unstable Internet connection and treacherous power supply) fifteen lecturers and their 2,019 students were persuaded—through participatory learning and action—and they agreed, learned, implemented, observed and evaluated their academic use of Facebook in four semesters. Data collected through questionnaire and periodic face-to-face and online interviews showed, among others, 56% of students understood course topics more; 92% collaborated more than they did elsewhere; 72% participated more in class discussions;. 70% spent for course activities on Facebook 80% of the time they used to spend on Facebook. Impact on students’ grades needs investigation.

Keywords

• Facebook,educational technology,e-learning,social media

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