Abstract:

Higher education considers the integration of technology and more especially social media as an essential tool for curriculum delivery and enhancing student’s learning experiences. Hastened by the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutions all over the world including those situated in rural settings with inadequate technological infrastructure embarked on the use of different digital platforms to deliver curriculum. This study aimed at exploring the experiences of first year pre-service teachers in the integration of social media platform for learning. A qualitative research approach was adopted using semi-structured questionnaire to gather information on factors that act as challenges and opportunities in the integration of the digital social media in the learning process. Data was analysed using the thematic analytical procedure. Purposive sampling technique was engaged in selecting a sample of 50 students from a group of 103 first year pre-service teachers in the institution to participate in the study. It emerged from the study that integrating social media creates an enabling learning environment pivoting digital inclusivity. The social media interactive platform was well received by the participants since it provided an opportunity for them to engage with their lecturers, peers and learning materials anytime and anywhere. The results also showed that the use of social media created an opportunity for individualised personal development and dispel the notion that it could not be used academically. Conversely, it emerged that students lack financial resources to purchase data for regular interaction with lecturers and peers. Feedback opportunities were almost unavailable though essential in academic development and knowledge construction. Moreover, fluctuating network and difficulty in accessing these networks in their rural environment were inhibitors to the effective use of social media platform. It is imperative that the university must equip student with the necessary infrastructure and embark on development programmes to support students integrate social media platforms in the learning process.

Keywords:

Social media, digital platform, pre-service teachers, technological infrastructure, rural setting.