Students in higher education: Social and academic uses of digital technology (original) (raw)
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Sciences of the University of Malaga (marisol@uma.es). v Dr. Sergio Roses is Researcher at the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of Malaga (sergioroses@uma.es). v Dr. Pedro Farias Batlle is Professor at the Journalism Department at the Faculty of Communication Sciences of the University of Malaga (farias@uma.es).
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Purpose of the paper: Social Networks Sites (SNSs) are becoming very popular among students and constitute a promising field for tertiary education evolution. This research aims at assessing the usage of social networks for educational aims and at evaluating the perception of university students towards this kind of usage. Methodology: Methodologically, the paper rests on an extensive, comprehensive and comparative theoretical research on the subject, as well as on primary research involving the in-depth survey of 125 university students in Northern Italy. Findings: The findings underline the importance of utilizing SNSs to improve educational communications, sharing of information, student-student and studenteducator interaction, efficiency, polyphony and more. The research also stressed the need for SNS adoption to be specific and in accordance with both student and lecturer attitudes, competences and limitations, as well other therein specified stakeholders and added values. Research limitations: this is an exploratory study based on a sample of moderately limited size and, although generically valuable, it focuses specifically on Northern Italy. Implications: the present research, in addition to its practical applications, may be extended to the academic faculty and to an analysis, based on a wider sample, of the underlying motivators that inhibit students and faculty from adopting SNSs for educational purposes. Originality/Value of the paper: although literature on SNSs in education does exist, studies on university students' attitude towards SNSs are scarce and contrasting. This research sheds light on this still underexplored, yet increasingly important subject by descriptively aiding the comprehension of SNSs for educational purposes, while prescriptively indicating advisable courses of action.
The use of social networking by students and staff in higher education
Proceedings (papers and abstracts) of iLearning …, 2008
From September 2007 new and returning students at the University of Westminster have had a brand new way of staying in touch with their friends and classmates through an innovative new social networking site, Connect. The Connect system (powered by Elgg []) is allied to a re-development of the University's online support for students called 'My Westminster'. Available to all current students, it allows users to create their own profiles, upload photographs and documents, create and join discussion groups, send messages and publish blogs and presentations. So far (November 2007) Connect has over 3100 student and staff visitors and over 100 communities have been established. This paper will describe and present an evaluation of the initial use of Connect by staff and students. The nature and success of purely social type communities (e.g. the film club) will be discussed as will the creation and use of study groups that have been set up by students. An analysis of preliminary feedback from students and staff on the value of Connect in both social and academic life will be included