Using Facebook for Leveraging Sense of Community in Self-Paced Open and Distance Learning Courses

Authors

  • Serpil Kocdar Anadolu University Acikogretim Fakultesi Yunus Emre Kampusu
  • Abdulkadir Karadeniz Anadolu University Acikogretim Fakultesi Yunus Emre Kampusu
  • Nil Goksel Anadolu University Yabancı Diller Yuksekokulu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v13i05.8192

Keywords:

sense of community, self-paced learning, Facebook, social network sites, open and distance learning

Abstract


The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a sense of community could be enhanced via learning activities delivered through a Facebook group within a self-paced distance-learning course. A closed Facebook group was created for a voluntary English as a foreign language course. Four types of learning activities were delivered via the Facebook group including both syn-chronous and asynchronous structured activities, and synchronous and asyn-chronous unstructured activities. The study was designed as convergent mixed-method study. Quantitative data were gathered from a total of 179 students by using the Classroom Community Scale; quantitative data were concurrently gathered from 17 students via semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that the sense of community among learners was found to be high, however, the type of learning activities had no effect on building a sense of community. The study was intended to guide teachers, instructors, administrators and practitioners interested in designing and delivering self-paced open and distance learning courses.

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Published

2018-04-30

How to Cite

Kocdar, S., Karadeniz, A., & Goksel, N. (2018). Using Facebook for Leveraging Sense of Community in Self-Paced Open and Distance Learning Courses. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 13(05), pp. 100–116. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v13i05.8192

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 05 (2018)

Section

Papers

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