CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Today, the world is celebrating its improvements in communication technology which has broadened the scope of communication through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Ufouph and Ayobami (2012) observe that the ICTs include internet, satellite, cable data transmission and computer assisted equipment. Interaction and Information technologies have reshaped our lives today, and nowadays, students in higher institution of learning have a massive use of smart phones and other portable devices. All these smart phones and other portable devices are equipped or ready for social media applications like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, Google+, WhatsApp, Telegram and 2go, which are part of what is known as social web, best characterized by the notions of social interaction, content sharing and collective intelligence. “Social connections affect so many aspects of our lives, and is no argument that they can also be applied to education and learning” (King and Sen, 2013, p.622). The role of emerging social media may offer new opportunities to enhance learning experiences. Zepke and Leach (2010) opines that motivation and students dispositions will influence their ability to engage in interactive learning. “Students, often referred to as digital navies (Prensky, 2001), have spent most of their time on computers, game consoles, digital music players, cellphones, video cameras, as well as web itself”.
Social media platforms require daily interactions among students, thus bridging the “all-too-well-known” gap between the classroom and the real world. Schools aim to develop and to support methods to improve the effectiveness and efficiency if interaction and collaboration among students. Most of social media platforms have been developed in order to maintain, manage, and improve social interactions between people, where people can easily access, reuse or comment on content that is authored by others. The evolving learning environments are allowing students to learn anytime and anywhere (Wetzel, 2010). “Social networks may play an important role in raising awareness about the reliable resources of information among students and the society by providing alternative sources of knowledge” (Battrawi and Muhtaseh, 2013).
However, lack of regulation of the internet has led to its excessive use. McQuail (2008) asserts that the internet penetrates more homes. It is a common sight to see a youth chatting in sensitive and highly organized places like church, mosque, and lecture venues. Some are so carried away that even as they are walking along the high way, they keep chatting.
However, the manufacturing and distribution of equally sophisticated cellular phones and other social media devices has complicated situations, as youths no longer need to visit a cybercafé before they send and receive messages, go to libraries, nor pay attention to buying books. Attention has been shifted from visible to invisible friends on the social media platforms, while important ventures like studying and writing are affected in the process. This phenomenon has become a source of worry to many who believe in knowledge and skill acquisition.
In recent years, the number of students engaging in social media has exploded. Such online spaces therefore hold vast quantities of naturally-occurring data on number of topics, from political views and preferences to economy, lifestyle, entertainment, religion, environmental issues and most importantly, academic information for studies. This provides students with huge opportunities to gather relevant information pertaining to their chosen career easily. Yet, these opportunities are accompanied by several other considerations as to the level of which these platforms have been of advantage or disadvantage to them in their learning. Following the usage of social media platforms among students, it has so far necessitated the researcher to conduct the research in order to access the effectiveness of social media platforms in learning among the students of Heritage Polytechnic, Eket.
Statement of the Problem
The use of social media platform is now a global phenomenon, and according to Hussain (2012), social media usage and reliance by and among students is growing rapidly. Students at all levels of learning now have divided attention from studies to engaging in social media platforms. The widespread use of social media tools has revolutionized student’s habit of reading, research and communication. Furthermore, high interaction in social media has triggered the cooperativeness and communication of students via multiple chat rooms. However, students tend to spend more time chatting and making friends via the social media, and this might definitely have influence on their academic performance and their learning.
How the exposure to these platforms has impacted on student’s learning is uncertain. Therefore, this study delves into finding out student’s exposure to social media platforms, their use of these platforms for learning and the effectiveness of these platforms for learning by Heritage Polytechnic students.
Objectives of the Study
The study has the following objectives:
To find out the extent to which students of Heritage Polytechnic, Eket, are exposed to social media platforms.
To ascertain the social media platforms that the students are exposed to.
To find out if the students use the platforms for their studies.
To find out the effectiveness of the platforms for learning by the students.
Research Questions
The study intends to find answers to the following research questions:
To what extent are students of Heritage Polytechnic, exposed to social media platforms?
What social media platforms are the students exposed to?
Do the students use the social media platforms for their studies?
What is the effectiveness of the social media platforms on the students learning?
Scope of the Study
The research is limited to the effectiveness of social media platform in learning among students of Heritage Polytechnic, Ikot Udota, Eket.
Significance of the Study
This research is expected to have access in the learning perspective and habits of students who engage in social media platforms.
It will help students understand how advanced technologies could be used to enhance their learning.
The study will no doubt, add more to the existing knowledge of the innumerable benefits of the advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and will also add more knowledge to modern day learning, which can be used for future studies.
Limitations of the Study
In the process of carrying out this research, some challenging factors were inherent in the course of this work. Most of which were; inadequate materials in the libraries to provide reliable historical data, refusal and ignorance of most respondents to divulge useful information helpful to the researcher and unstable climatic condition.
However, these limitations were not left unattended. Apart from the conventional libraries, other reliable sources of information became imperative, more respondents were reached to boost the credence of recommendations reached and the researcher utilized effectively days of favourable climate to reach respondents.
Definition of Terms
Devices: Refers to smart mobile technologies used by students to gain access to the internet.
Effectiveness: The capacity or potential for achieving results.
Learning: The process of acquiring knowledge or skill.
Social Media Platform: Internet platform for interaction and information sharing, using highly accessible and scalable communication techniques.
