How Jordanian University Students Perceive the Opportunities and Challenges of Using Facebook as a Supplementary Learning Resource?

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating Jordanian university students’ opinions of utilizing a Facebook application that is linked to a university course. This course-specific ‘Facebook page’ that is entitled “Our Environment is Our Responsibility” was created specifically as an additional course material to learn more how university students who enrolled in this course perceive this resource as a new learning tool. Two questionnaires were distributed to 64 students. The first questionnaire was implemented at the beginning of the semester. It consisted of open-ended questions to learn about students’ proposed expectations of utilizing this new platform. The other questionnaire was given at the end of the semester to learn more about students’ perceptions of this new experience. Findings of this study revealed that the majority of students perceived Facebook as an attractive, valuable and accepted learning resource. However, the students faced many obstacles that hindered the ultimate benefit of utilizing this supplementary online learning resource. Recommendations and further research opportunities regarding using Facebook as a learning tool are discussed.