Using Facebook to Aid in Learning of Biodiversity
Title
Besides serving as a social networking site, can Facebook facilitate the learning of AAB 101: Biodiversity in Natural Ecosystems for Year 1 Biology students?
Introduction
In this technology-based era, it is difficult to imagine how one would survive without it. We have become so reliant on technology that we are even depending on it to maintain social contact with our friends and acquaintances. With social networking sites, such as Facebook, people are able to plan events, share interesting facts, hyperlinks and videos. In addition, discussions are also able to be held on the site. With such convenience to keep in touch with the world, Facebook has become a very popular site, especially among students.
The change of times have resulted in technology being a large part of students’ lives today, pedagogical methods in teaching have to change in order to maintain students’ interest in the subject (Komoski, 2007 ). With online interaction, such as Facebook, becoming popular among students, many research studies have been done to determine its suitability and potential to be used as a learning tool (Chow & Sharman, 2007; Juwah, 2006; Anderson, 2006; Sanjaya & Juwah, 2006). But whether this will coincide with what the students really think is questionable as no formal research has been found stating students’ reponses with regards to its potential as a learning tool. Hence, the purpose of this research paper is to determine whether Biology student teachers see it as a potential learning tool to improve their learning and possibility of using it as a learning tool in the future. This paper focuses on the potential of using Facebook as an online interactive learning tool to aid in learning AAB 101: Biodiversity in Natural Ecosystems (Biodiversity), which was chosen as it was found to be a module that many students had difficulty with. Ways as to how Facebook can contribute to the learning of Biodiversity and its limitations will be discussed
Besides serving as a social networking site, can Facebook facilitate the learning of AAB 101: Biodiversity in Natural Ecosystems for Year 1 Biology students?
Introduction
In this technology-based era, it is difficult to imagine how one would survive without it. We have become so reliant on technology that we are even depending on it to maintain social contact with our friends and acquaintances. With social networking sites, such as Facebook, people are able to plan events, share interesting facts, hyperlinks and videos. In addition, discussions are also able to be held on the site. With such convenience to keep in touch with the world, Facebook has become a very popular site, especially among students.
The change of times have resulted in technology being a large part of students’ lives today, pedagogical methods in teaching have to change in order to maintain students’ interest in the subject (Komoski, 2007 ). With online interaction, such as Facebook, becoming popular among students, many research studies have been done to determine its suitability and potential to be used as a learning tool (Chow & Sharman, 2007; Juwah, 2006; Anderson, 2006; Sanjaya & Juwah, 2006). But whether this will coincide with what the students really think is questionable as no formal research has been found stating students’ reponses with regards to its potential as a learning tool. Hence, the purpose of this research paper is to determine whether Biology student teachers see it as a potential learning tool to improve their learning and possibility of using it as a learning tool in the future. This paper focuses on the potential of using Facebook as an online interactive learning tool to aid in learning AAB 101: Biodiversity in Natural Ecosystems (Biodiversity), which was chosen as it was found to be a module that many students had difficulty with. Ways as to how Facebook can contribute to the learning of Biodiversity and its limitations will be discussed
References: Anderson, T. (2006). Interaction in Learning and teaching on the Educational Semantic Web. In C. Juwah, Interactions in Online Education: Implications for theory and practice (pp. 141-155). Abingdon: Routledge. Chow, L., & Sharman, R. (2007). Online Interactions: Trying to get it right. In P. Tsang, R. Kwan, & R. Fox, Enhancing Learning through Technology (pp. 96-108). Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd. Galloway, J. (2009). Harnessing technology for every child matters and personalised learning. Abingdon: Routledge. Juwah, C. (2006). Interactions in Online Peer Learning. In C. Juwah, Interactions in Online Education: Implications for theory and practice (pp. 171-190). Abingdon: Routledge. Komoski, K. (2007 ). 21st Century Teachers and Learners: Prosumers in a Bi-literate Knowledge-Driven World. Texas, United States of America: AACE-SITE 2007 Annual Conference. Sanjaya, M., & Juwah, C. (2006). Interactions in Online Dicussions. In C. Juwah, Interactions in Online Education: Implications for theory and practice (pp. 156-170). Abingdon: Routledge.