ODL STUDENTS AND THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING SYSTEMS AS AN EDUCATIONAL TOOL: CAN LECTURERS STAY CONNECTED

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Abstract

The use of technology in education is not a fad anymore- it is real and happening at a fast pace. Students are expecting lecturers to become more and more adept at using technology and to make use of the media available to transfer knowledge. Therefore, lecturers in all tertiary institutions have tobecome more and more adapted in the use of technology. In many instances there is a disconnection between the expectations of these two groups and the main aim of this study was to investigate lecturers’ perceptions on the use of social media networking systems in the transfer of knowledge, at an open distance learning (ODL) tertiary institution. The study also investigated whether lecturers feel at ease when using social media networking systems, whether they will be able to find information on these social media networking systems and whether they believe it will be an effective and easy way to present course content. These aspects were tested by making use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs namely; ‘Perceived ease of use’, ‘Perceived usefulness’, ‘Attitude towards using’, and ‘System accessibility’. A survey was distributed to lecturers, and it was found that lecturers regarded ‘Perceived ease of use’ as being the most important factor to consider when they are using social media networking systems.

Keywords: ODL, Social Media, Social Media Networking Systems, Teaching, Education

How to cite this paper: Wiid, J. A., & Cant, M. C. (2013). ODL students and the use of social media networking systems as an educational tool: can lecturers stay connected. Corporate Ownership & Control, 11(1-6), 556-566. https://doi.org/10.22495/cocv11i1c6art3