Silius et al KMEL 2010
Contents
Citation
Silius et al. Studentsʼ Motivations for Social Media Enhanced Studying and Learning. Knowledge Management & E-Learning. 2010;2(1).
Online version
Summary
This paper discusses the design of a social network design as an attempt to foster cooperative studying among University freshman by providing them with a specialized social network. It was found that the first social network implementation provided to to the students did not have the desired effect. The reasons for this failure are analysed in terms of web design and social network analysis.
Motivation
The authors acted on the observation that "very early steps at the beginning of studies are the most difficult for many students" because "only a few new students know any of their peers at the beginning of studies in their new university." Therefore, the authors posited that providing a specialized social network with "tools for interaction and study support" should reduce the initial burden of studying for freshman.
First implementation of the system
The social network site created by the researchers was called the Study Circle (later to become the TUT Circle). It included basic networking tools such as friend requests and private messaging, but also groups functions including discussion boards and file uploading. Several static groups were created by default based on study programs.
The Study Circle was offered as a resource to freshman students in 2008, but its usage was voluntary. At the end of the term it was conclusive that the site was not being used. Surveys found that the voluntary nature of the service, and the lack of primary content on the site made students uninterested in it.
Second implementation of the system
The researchers completely re-engineered the system using Drupal. One of the major changes in the new system was to include a dashboard on a student's homepage. On this dashboard would show the activity of other students in the extended network.
Furthermore, the system was expanded away from a focus on facilitating studying, and more towards facilitating student interaction in general.
Other features added to the second implementation were tags, according to which all content on the site can be organized and indexed, and a questions feature. The questions feature differed from the discussion boards of the previous implemenation in that anonymous posting was allowed. Question postings were also automatically routed to tutors according to study topic.
Data gathered and design analysis
In order to faciliate the design of the system, two studies were conducted. In the first, 10 students gave free-text analyses of crucial aspects in the success or failure of TUT Circle. In the second study, 38 students were given beta-tester access to the system. These students used an in-house quality assessment tool to rate functions of the site.
Results
The results showed that "combining studying and leisure time seemed to be the most relevant purpose in which such a system could be useful", and that first impressions were important in causing dissemination of the service among students by word-of-mouth.
Also crucial was the idea that the system must have value that cannot be obtained from other existing systems.
One expected survey result was that it was desirable to add features one by one. In the manner, the initial site is easier to learn to use, while periodic notifications of new features being rolled out can serve to re-engage users.
Related papers
Knoke, D., & Yang, S. (2008). Social Network Analysis. Second Edition. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
