Social Media Use in Higher Education

A study by Michael WilderUniversity of Nevada, Las Vegas

Research Question

Why do students in university library computer labs spend time engaged in online social activities while also working on other educational tasks?

Methods

In order to encounter previously unobserved cultural behaviors

through open-minded exploration, the study lent itself to

qualitative research methods.

Methods

Location:UNLVLied Library Information Commons & Computer areas

Methods

Map

Methods

Participants• College students• Primarily between eighteen and twenty three• One or two older than forty• Evenly divided gender• Mixed ethnicities

(African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander)

Methods

Timeframe• Three half-hour observations– Wednesday, June 9, 2010, from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.– Friday, June 11, 2010, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00p.m.– Thursday, June 17, 2010, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• Summer School• Second session

Methods

Technique• Observed student on-screen activity in the

labs by walking behind rows of computer tables and taking field notes

• Interviewed four students that were engaged in social media

• Interviewed a reference librarian

Data Analysis

Taxonomy

Student activity categories– Information finding– Information processing– Artifact creation– Knowledge assessment– Social interaction

Data Analysis

Domain analysis

Data Analysis

Interview Questions• How often do you check your social media account?• How often do you keep social media Web sites active

while simultaneously working on educational tasks?• Do you perceive any negative effects of using social

media on your educational performance?• What is it about social media that is so attractive?

Data Analysis

Representative interview responsesHow often do you check your social media account?

“I check my Facebook page at least five times in a sitting.”

“I check my Facebook page at least every thirty minutes.”

Data Analysis

Representative interview responsesHow often do you keep social media Web sites active

while simultaneously working on educational tasks?

“Facebook is usually on the entire time I’m writing a paper.”

“I use it as a kind of break in between paragraphs…a little escape from the homework.”

Data Analysis

Representative interview responsesDo you perceive any negative effects of using social

media on your educational performance?

“I started getting into Facebook last year, and I’m pretty much getting straight A’s, so I haven’t seen any adverse effects to my studying since I’ve used it.”

Data Analysis

Representative interview responses What is it about social media that is so

attractive?

“I feel connected even though I’m stuck in the library, not having a life.”

“My friends are readily available.”

Findings

• Student online activity in a university library can be placed into five categories.

• Some students multitask/rapid task switch.• Facebook is the online social media

application of choice (over Twitter or Myspace).

• Ten to twelve percent of students are on Facebook at any given time.

Findings

Students are attracted to social media because:• They can communicate with family and friends;• They can receive inside information not

available elsewhere;• They can take a momentary mental escape

from educational tasks;• They can feel connected with peers even

though they are isolated.

Conclusion

The need to interact and feel connected is a primary characteristic of our society.

As educators, we can capitalize upon this drive for connectivity by building opportunities for communication and collaboration in our online curriculum.

Conclusion

If we can incorporate social media techniques in our online courses, perhaps we can engage students in a networked community of learning.

Otherwise, our students will feel the need to be connected elsewhere.

Author Contacts

This presentation by:

Michael WilderLearning Technologies SpecialistE-mail | Web Site