An Applied Study on Educational Use of Facebook as a Web 2.0 Tool: The Sample Lesson of Computer Networks and Communication

TL;DR

This study investigates how Facebook can be used as an educational tool in teaching computer networks, showing students' generally positive attitudes and suggesting social networks support lifelong learning.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence on the effectiveness and student perceptions of using Facebook as a supplementary educational platform in a specific lesson.

Findings

Students' attitudes towards Facebook in education were generally positive.

Facebook usage in education can support continuous learning.

Students' views on Facebook as an educational tool were diverse.

Abstract

The main aim of the research was to examine educational use of Facebook. The Computer Networks and Communication lesson was taken as the sample and the attitudes of the students included in the study group towards Facebook were measured in a semi-experimental setup. The students on Facebook platform were examined for about three months and they continued their education interactively in that virtual environment. After the-three-month-education period, observations for the students were reported and the attitudes of the students towards Facebook were measured by three different measurement tools. As a result, the attitudes of the students towards educational use of Facebook and their views were heterogeneous. When the average values of the group were examined, it was reported that the attitudes towards educational use of Facebook was above a moderate level. Therefore, it might be suggested that social networks in virtual environments provide continuity in life long learning.