Social Media Use to Transfer Knowledge into Practice and Aid Interaction in Higher Education
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Education and Development using ICT
Abstract
Employers have criticised graduates for having inadequate skills to apply knowledge into practice.
One of the causes of this challenge is the traditional teaching and learning methods which
concentrate more on theory than practice. Technology affords several teaching and learning tools
like social media which students are already motivated to use. Social media aids in sharing
learning experiences, research, academic events and getting the latest information. However,
there is a paucity of research on its use for learner-centric teaching, learning and academic
purposes in Africa. The research uses Facebook (FB) technology to facilitate a task of students’
applying operating systems knowledge to record and upload a video installing a virtual machine
and operating system onto a group; to promote content access, and interactive and cooperative
learning. Bowers Affordance analysis eLearning design methodology framework was used to
match requirements of this task with affordances of the Facebook tool (Bower, 2008). A
questionnaire already validated by previous research was used to determine the attitudes and
perceptions of students on the use of FB to accomplish the video upload assignment task. The
results show positive effects of FB on students learning process and experience, include
students’ putting knowledge into practice, sharing, collaboration, interaction, flexibility and
learner–centered activities, among others. In this light we recommend that FB should be
integrated as a tool for learning at the university since students appreciate it, find it easy to use
and familiar.
Description
Keywords
Knowledge Transfer, Facebook, Interaction, Collaboration, Operating Systems
Citation
Bagarukayo, E. (2018). Social media use to transfer knowledge into practice and aid interaction in higher education. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT, 14(2).