DIGITAL LIBRARY
FACEBOOK USE BY STUDENTS IN 2011-2012 AND 2012-2013 AND FACTORS OF INTEGRATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (NETHERLANDS)
About this paper:
Appears in: EDULEARN13 Proceedings
Publication year: 2013
Pages: 4063-4069
ISBN: 978-84-616-3822-2
ISSN: 2340-1117
Conference name: 5th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies
Dates: 1-3 July, 2013
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Abstract:
In the following paper I compare the use of Facebook by first year students, in the Department of Media, Communication and Information at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. Opposed to previous years, in 2012 and 2013 the use of Facebook was incorporated in the student career-counselling course and mandatory to create and join a class page on Facebook. The differences in whether or not students use (self-created) Facebook-groups were measured for both groups of first year students and compared with each other. Furthermore, because this study is part of a broader (PhD) research wherein I investigate the influence of media literacy and its possible effect on students’ success, I will also incorporate other variables derived from Tinto’s integration theory. In previous studies it was proved that these variables were influential factors of students success. All variables are measured using digital surveys and analysed with the help of statistical tests. This will explore the possible differences in Facebook use between the two groups. Furthermore it will investigate the relation between the variables derived from Tinto’s integration theory and Facebook use. Ultimately it will provide a valuable insight in the opportunities of Facebook in an educational setting.
Keywords:
Facebook, student success, higher education, social network site, integration theory, Tinto, engagement.