Title: Social network intervention for the enhancement of students' social presence in relation to satisfaction and perceived learning

Authors: Marva Mirabolghasemi; Noorminshah A. Iahad

Addresses: Department of Information Systems, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia ' Department of Information Systems, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract: The emergence of social network sites (SNS) creates communication tools to facilitate many processes that can be applied in teaching and learning. Although SNS provide great learning applications, the advantages of this kind of websites are oftentimes ignored. There is currently little research regarding the educational benefits of SNS dedicated to teaching and learning. In order to investigate the largely unexplored benefits of educational SNS, the researchers estimated social network intervention as a support of learning management system for the enhancement of social presence in relation to perceived learning and satisfaction with the instructor in blended learning. Findings of this research study show there was a significant difference between before and after social network intervention. However, the highest enhancement was for the social interaction and satisfaction with the instructor due to creating an online community. The results also showed a significant correlation between social presence and perceived learning, social presence and satisfaction with instructor, and satisfaction with instructor and perceived learning after social network intervention.

Keywords: blended learning; learning management systems; LMS; social interaction; learning experience; student satisfaction; social networks; social presence; social network intervention; perceived learning; social media; social networking sites; SNS; online communities; web based communities; virtual communities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2013.053246

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2013 Vol.9 No.2, pp.233 - 242

Published online: 30 Jan 2014 *

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