Faculty @ Facebook - Students’ Perspective for Educational Scaffold

Abstract

Social media is an integral part of the lives of students. Inspite of its popularity amongst the student community, not many studies have been conducted to investigate its use as an educational scaffold. This sequential explanatory mixed method research, which is a part of a larger study, explores students’ perceptions of the usability of Facebook group as a scaffold to face-to-face Chemistry education. The data of the study was collected from 75 students who were a part of specific Facebook group. These students were appearing for higher secondary (HSC-Maharashtra State Board) and competitive exams at National level. The study communicates students’ perceptions of how the interactions on the Facebook group enhance their learning of subject Chemistry. Regular educational posts, including videos, quizzes, discussion scaffolding to the classroom teaching of Chemistry and the interactions in the group were a regular feature of the group for 6 months. An online survey of the members of the Facebook group using Google forms was conducted to examine the student perceptions about the usefulness of such a group. The results indicate positive student reactions for such a scaffold and points out the need for better utilisation of Facebook in learning situations.