This document summarizes a study on students' perspectives on using online social networks for collaborative learning. It provides an outline that includes literature review on trends in social network usage among students, the research methodology used which was a quantitative survey of 131 students, results on demographics and social network usage preferences. The conclusion notes that while students prefer social networks for collaboration, there are also concerns about effectiveness and issues, and further analysis is needed to identify factors in students' choices.

1. Leveraging Online Social Networks
For Effective Collaborative Learning -
A Students’ Perspective
By :
Mohamed Firdhous, Junriana, Shahril Budiman,
Raja Abumanshur Matridi, Mohd Amar Aziz,
Iz'aan Shazwan bin Sharif, Noor Hadzlida Ayob
College of Social and Political Sciences

2. PRESENTATION OUTLINE
News Feed
Literature Review
Research Methodology
Demographics
Results Findings
Conclusion
Leveraging Online Social Networks For Effective Collaborative Learning- A Students’ Perspective | ICOIS 2013

3. OUTLINE
NEWS FEED...
Every nature human beings like to live in groups rather
than individuals in almost every aspect of life
HUMAN BEING ⇒ SOCIAL GROUPS ⇒ HUMAN LIVES

4. WELCOME TO
Firdhous - Moratuwa University
SOCIAL GROUPING HAS
UNDERGONE A
REVOLUTIONARY
CHANGE WITH
INTRODUCTON OF
ONLINE SOCIAL
NETWORKS

5. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information by online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

6. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information by online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

7. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information by online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

8. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information by online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

9. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information by online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

10. Literature review
Online social networks have become very popular among users
especially students in the recent past
(Hamat, 2012)
Trends of using social networks by college students basically for
communication and entertainment
(Sponcil & Gitimu, 2013)
Facebook is the one of the most popular SN students accessed
afterward, YouTube, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs & LinkedIn
Beck and Scheel (2011), defined Virtual communication through
social networks and media is successful model of e-learning
strategic
Innovative model of learning reach by improving knowledge and
information using online collaboration (Giani, 2010), Whereas
Blumcke and Paas (2011) ) have studied the use of interactive
social media for informal learning and empowerment though the
use of ISABEL an EU project implemented for promoting lifelong
learning

11. @Research Place
#Universiti Utara Malaysia
@Methodology
#Quantitative with Descriptive analysis
#Questionnaires were answered immediately, while
researchers waiting to ensure questionnaires
administered were answers and returned
#Emphasizes on Behavioral Patterns
@Sample
#Students are pursuing Undergraduate + Post Graduate
degree
#Total Sample Size 131
#Convenience Sampling

12. DEMOGRAPHICS
PERSONAL
EDUCATION BACKGROUND EMPLOYMENT STATUS
INFORMATION
Program being followed Status
41.22 58.78 Undergraduate
%
8.40%
%
Employe
PostGraduate d, 26.72
Diploma %
39.69% 50.38% Masters
Not
Employe
GENDER PhD
1.53% d, 73.28
%
Age Highest Qualification
1%
Type
3% 1% 8.40% 10.69% High School
< 20 STPM
8% Part
20-25 Matriculation
26-30
Time, 37
22% 24.43% GCE (A/L)
31-35 40.46% .24%
65% Diploma Full
36-40
> 40 Undergraduate Time, 62
10.69% Masters
.86%
3.05% 2.29%

13. Reasons for Collaboration
Results
Findings
Social Network Usage
Preferred Method for Collaboration

14. Results Findings (Cont)
NO
5%
Preference for Using Social
Networks for Collaboration
YES
95%
Reasons for Using Social Networks for Collaboration Issues with Social Networks

15. Conclusion
University students use the advanced
technologies such as internet applications, social
networks and email for collaborative learning
presently.
Even many preferred to use social networks for
collaborative learning, they also concerns about
the effectiveness and issues of using social
networks for the same.
This study proposed to carry out more depth
analysis of the data for identifying the factors that
that make students to choose social networks for
collaborative learning or otherwise.
Leveraging Online Social Networks For Effective Collaborative Learning- A Students’ Perspective | ICOIS 2013