title:
Using Social Media Tools for Collaborative Learning: A Mixed-Method Investigation on Collaborative Learning by iSchool Students around the World
creator:
Lu, Wenqing
subject:
Dissertations, Academic.
description:
Collaborative learning helps university students improve their academic achievement, learning persistence and attitudes. Social media tend to have positive effects on collaborative learning by encouraging positive interactions online. Although previous research studies were conducted to explore the use of social media in education, there is a gap of studying the use of social media tools for collaborative learning. Motivated by the needs of using social media tools for iSchools students, this mixed-method dissertation research investigates the extent to which social media tools are used by iSchools students to facilitate their collaborative learning activities. Through an online survey with 222 students from 26 iSchools in 9 countries/regions, followed by 31 in-depth interviews with the surveyed people, the study investigates 1) the factors influencing iSchools students’ selection of social media tools; 2) the needed features and functions of social media for collaborative learning activities; 3) collaboration and communication strategies of iSchools students; 4) the impacts of design characteristics, usability, and UX aspects of the social media tools on iSchools students’ collaborative learning. The research findings reveal that iSchools students use social media well and have used various tools for group projects/assignments for a long time. However, the satisfaction levels and the perceived values of using social media tools remain neutral, because both benefits and drawbacks impact the use experiences widely and deeply. “Country” is shown as the major factor influencing the students’ use behaviors and perceptions, and open communication among team members brings the benefits and tackles the drawbacks of using social media tools for collaborative learning. In addition, a conceptual framework is developed to illustrate the collaborative learning through social media tools with the contextual and individual factors involved in the process. The dissertation research fills the gap of the existing studies with an overview of collaborative learning through social media tools in higher education settings. It introduces the commonly used features and functions for collaborative learning purposes, investigates the learning and communication behaviors, compares the benefits and drawbacks of using social media tools, and lists the related collaboration strategies. In terms of conceptual significance, the research study advances the understanding of the role of social media tools in collaborative learning; it deepens the understanding of the dimensions of collaborative learning through social media tools; and it contributes to the research studies in the fields of collaborative learning and social media with a conceptual framework. In terms of practical significance, the research findings may help with the improvements of social media platform and interface design with an overview of the useful features and functions for collaborative learning, and users’ recommendations or suggestions for future social media developments. From the teaching and learning perspective, the research findings contribute to the design of iSchools course assignments and projects, that require actively using social media to support collaborative leaning.
publisher:
Simmons University (Boston, Mass.)
contributor:
date:
2021
type:
Text
format:
1 PDF (158 Pages)
identifier:
td_lis_2021_wl
source:
language:
English
relation:
coverage:
rights:
Material from the Simmons University Archives collections are made available for study purposes only. For more information, or to request rights to reproduce or reuse any material, contact the University Archives at archives@simmons.edu.