The Usage of Social Networks In Educational Context

1. The Usage of Social Networks In Educational Context Sacide Güzin MAZMAN, Yasemin KOÇAK USLUEL Hacettepe University, Faculty of EducationDepartment of Computer Education and Instructional Technology TURKIYE

2. Formal learning Informal learning Problem • Possible advantages of technology in educational context required the defining boundaries of formal and informal learning.

3. Problem • Increasing opportunity to ubiquitous learning by technological support has revealed a question; • How to discover the potential of individuals in the spontaneous environments such as social networks?

4. Problem • While social networks have been adopted and being used extensively all around the world, it is notable that they are not adopted in the educational field as much in other fields.

5. Purpose of study Proposing a new model that could determine factors which effect adoption of social networksto use in educational context.

6. Social Networks in Educational Context A common space for • Shared interests, needs and goals • Collaboration • Knowledge sharing • Online and offline interaction • Visual / Verbal communication

7. Social Networks in Educational Context • Support both the virtual and real social worlds. • Solution to limitations of learning management systems (LMS)with social communication and personal profile tools.

8. Social Networks in Educational Context • Positive relations between students-teacher and students-students by creating more cordial environments.

9. Social Networks in Educational Context • Provide engaging two-way experiences for users, “prosumers” of the multimedia content • Consumer+Producer • Web-based multimedia and distribution tools incorporating • Rich audio (Podcasting, Skype) • Photo (Flickr) • Video (vodcasting, YouTube, Stickam) • Networking (Facebook, Myspace)

10. Social Networks in Educational Context • Need to expand vision of pedagogy that learners are; • Active participants • Co-producers of content rather than passive consumers • Learning is a process; • Supporting personal life goals and needs • Participatory • Social

11. Emerging informal e-learning domainis receiving greater attention because of the widespread utilization of social networking technologies. Informal learning; Unplanned and spontaneous Information is being acquired implicitly Open for the participation of everyone Learners’ direct self-control Social Networks in Educational Context

12. Adoption of Social Networks in Educational Context • While social networks have been adopted and being used extensively by many people, it is notable that they are not adopted in the educational field as much in other fields

13. Adoption of Social Networks in Educational Context • Models and theories about diffusion, adoption and acceptance of innovation could be grouped under two folds; • Based on socio- physiological contexts and investigated adoption of innovation at the individual level focused on internal decision processes • Focused on features of innovation and its examined spread among users in a system

14. Adoption of Social Networks in Educational Context

15. Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context Facilitating Conditions Ease of Use Usefulness Subjective Norm Social Network Use Social Factors Image Innovativeness Community Identity

16. Perceived Usefulness Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As students can; • share information,idea, documents and homeworkin a very short time, • communicate effectively and quickly • access universal resources • participate in groups and form new groups • collaborate with people all around the world

17. Perceived Ease of Use Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As students can easily; • use social network features • upload and download files, pictures, videos • organize their profiles • communicate and collaborate

18. Social Factors Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As social networks; • contain social activities • include very different people with their social norms • different groups with their subjective cultures

19. Innovativeness Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As social networks are; • relatively new environments • different form other communication environments • require taking risk to try

20. Community Identity Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As social networks provide; • opportunity to constitute an identity in virtual environment • coming together with people have common interests, needs and expectations • forming new communities around common goals

21. Image Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As social newtorks provide; • publishing profile information • displaying comments, photos and status for public

22. Subjective norms Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As, people in social network environments, • feel a social pressure • facewith other’s views and opinions • adapt with others

23. Faciliating Conditions Proposal Model For Social Network’s Usage in Educational Context As in social networks, people need; • help from friends, teachers and others • support services • resources and help menu

24. Conclusion • Students needs and expectations also undergo a change with technologic developments. • Education styles have became important in providing students to; • participate actively • communicate in a flexible environment • share information universally • personalize education and environment • learn independently from time and place

25. Conclusion • It is supposed that effectiveness will be increased when social networks, one of the emerging technologies, start to be used actively and reasonably in the educational field.

26. Conclusion • In further researches this model can be tested and verified. • Researches can examine different potential constructs as • motivation • satisfaction • interaction • social presence

27. Thank you kocak@hacettepe.edu.tr sguzin@hacettepe.edu.tr