National College of Ireland MSc Learning Technologies 2009/2010 Uzokwe Ajuluchukwu Orjiewulu 03234045 [email protected] Social Networking Sites: Does the use Ning as a collaboration and learning tool in second level education improve student's academic performance? Dissertation National College Ireland Barcode No: Dewey No : 3^ j . 33 4 i) Date Input : % ( , p t i v Price I hereby certify that this material, which I now submit for assessment of the programme of study leading to the award of Master of Science in Learning Technologies is entirely my own work and has not been taken from the work of others save and to the extent that such work has been citied and acknowledged within the text of my work. Signed: ... tcuQ Date: 3rd August 2010 Student Number: 03234045 Acknowledgement This thesis would not have been completed without God's guidance and grace. To the lecturers and staffs of the National College of Ireland that have made my study and experience a memorable and interesting one, I say a big thank you, especially Dr. Stephan Weibelzahl and Dr Eugene O'loughlin for your criticism and open door policy I say thank you. To my friends that helped in making this research study become a reality and the Principal, staffs and students of my research schools, Thank you so much for allowing you be my guinea pigs. Finally to my family and friends, thank you so much for believing in me. Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................................... - 3 - Index of figures....................................................................................................................... - 8 - Index of Tables.....................................................................................................................- 10 - Abstract.................................................................................................................................. -11 - 1. Introduction...................................................................................................................... -13 - 1.1. Introduction..............................................................................................................-13 - 1.2. Types of Social Networking Sites.......................................................................... -15 - 1.3. Emerging Trends in Social Networking.................................................................- 22 - 1.3.1. Social Networking and Business..................................................................... - 22 - 1.3.2. Politics and the power of Social Networking.................................................- 24 - 1.3.3. Social Networking and the Science and Research.........................................- 26 - 1.3.4. Social Networking Sites in Education............................................................ - 27 - 1.4. Uses of Social Networking Sites in Education......................................................- 29 - 1.5. Why Ning?................................................................................................................. -32- 1.6. What is Social Learning?......................................................................................... - 37 - 1.7. What is Collaboration?............................................................................................ - 39 - 1.8. Aim of the study....................................................................................................... - 41 - 2. Literature Review............................................................................................................- 42 - 2.1. Introduction............................................... ............................................................. - 42 - 2.2. Learning Theory....................................................................................................... - 44 - 2.2.1. Behavioural Theory of Learning........................................... ...........................- 45 - 2.2.2. Cognitive Theory of Learning................................................................ .......... - 47 - -4 - 2.2.3. Constructivism Learning Theory......................................................................- 48 - 2.2.4. Social Constructivism Learning Theory........................................................... - 49 - 2.2.5. Connectivism Learning Theory...................................... ..................................- 50 - 2.3. History of Social Networking Sites..........................................................................- 54 - 2.4. Benefits of Social Networking Sites in Education.................................................. - 60 - 2.5. Case studies of Social Networking in Education................................................... - 63 - 2.5.1. The eTwinning Initiative Project.......................................................................- 64 - 2.5.2. The Horizon Project.............................................................................................- 66 - 2.5.3. The Kemp Project................................................................................................ - 67 - 2.6. Collaboration.............................................................................................................. - 69 - 2.7. Case study of Ning in Education.............................................................................- 72 - 2.8. Learning Style............................................................................................................ - 73 - 2.8.1. Visual Learning Style..........................................................................................- 76 - 2.8.2. Auditory Learning Style.....................................................................................- 77 - 2.8.3. Reading/Writing Learning Style.......................................................................- 78 - 2.8.4. Kinaesthetic Learning Style...................................................... ......................... - 79 - 2.9. Evaluating the effectiveness of collaborative learning using Ning Social Networking........................................................................................................................- 81 - 3, Research Method.............................................................................................................. - 85 - 3.1. Introduction................................................................................................................- 85 - 3.2. Research Question......................................................................................................- 86 - 3.3. Research Objective.....................................................................................................- 87 - 3.4. Problem Overview.....................................................................................................- 88 - - 5 - 3.5. Research Sample........................................................ ................................................- 91 - 3.6. Approaches to Primary Research.............................................................................- 92 ~ 3.7. Research Method.......................................................................................................- 93 - 3.7.1 Qualitative Data..................................................................................................... 94 - 3.7.2. Quantitative Data............................................................................................... - 95 - 3.8. Rational for survey strategy....................................................................................... 97 - 3.8.1. Survey Questionnaire............................. ..................................*........................- 97 - 3.8.2. Focus Group........................................................................................................- 98 - 3.8.3 Quantitative Method............................................................................................- 99 - 3.9. Data Analysis: Student's Attitudes towards Social Networking Sites (Study I) - 101 3.9.1. Study Sample................................ .................................................................. -101 - 3.9.2. Study Findings.................................................................................................-102 - 3.9.3: Summary of findings.................... ....................................................................-110 - 3.10. Stakeholder's Attitudes (Focus Group)................................................................-113 - 3.10.1. Sample Group................................ ............ ................. .................. ............. -113 - 3.10.2. Study Findings...............................................................................................-114 - 3.10.3. Summary.........................................................................................................-115 - 3.11. Learning with Ning (Study II & III)................................................................... - 116 - 3.11.1. Research Hypothesis......................................................... ............................. -116 - 3.11.2. Study II Sample Group..................................................... ........................... - 117 - 3.11.2. Study II Sample Findings............................................................................. - 118 - 3.11.3. Study III Sample Group..................................................................................-120