Last modified: 2016-02-29
Abstract
In 21st century, Internet and computer technology have brought new dimension to reason for improvements. Especially, face to face education shifts to distance education. Limitation of place and time have been changed with power of Internet and computer technology. After 2004, social media platforms have increased and social media have especially entered and become inevitable part of live in ten years. This inevitability of social media have influenced the education. In addition to face to face education platforms, social media platforms have been used as additionally.
This present study aims to reveal views of tertiary students about social media with respect to education. This present study has a qualitative research methodology. Case study has been chosen as a research design. The sample of the present study had been chosen from psychological counselor students who are taking learning psychology with purposeful sampling techniques. For data collection, focus group interviews had been done with 6 focus groups. These focus groups include 5 members. During focus groups, 3 interview questions had been asked. These are; what do you learn from social media?, What do you think about positive influence of social media with learning? And What do you think about negative influence of social media with learning?
For data analysis, each focus group interviews have been analyzed separately and 6 focus group interviews were analyzed with matrix. Students especially focus on positive effects of social media. For instance, social media let students to learn everything immediately. Students reach either teachers or resources easily. With respect to internet technology, every student uses smart phone and each of them has numbers of social media accounts in their smart phones. Therefore, the new habit provides advantages in learning.