TY - JOUR
T1 - Facebook class groups of high school students: their role in establishing social dynamics and learning experiences
AU - Muls, Jaël
AU - De Backer, Free
AU - Thomas, Valérie Marie
AU - Zhu, Chang
AU - Lombaerts, Koen
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - The study’s main aim was to explore the role of Facebook class groups, created and managed by high-school students, in facilitating social dynamics and learning experiences. Fourteen Facebook class groups were observed online and students were subsequently questioned through focus-group interviews. Our findings show that Facebook class groups can promote both bonding and learning. Bonding can be enhanced because Facebook class groups foster a sense of solidarity and unity among students. Also, Facebook can stimulate (social) learning because students gain more insights in the subject matter and are challenged to carry out an evaluation of their own study methods and progress. Therefore, drawing on the theories of seamless learning and affinity spaces, we conclude that Facebook class groups are important for social affiliation and effective learning.
AB - The study’s main aim was to explore the role of Facebook class groups, created and managed by high-school students, in facilitating social dynamics and learning experiences. Fourteen Facebook class groups were observed online and students were subsequently questioned through focus-group interviews. Our findings show that Facebook class groups can promote both bonding and learning. Bonding can be enhanced because Facebook class groups foster a sense of solidarity and unity among students. Also, Facebook can stimulate (social) learning because students gain more insights in the subject matter and are challenged to carry out an evaluation of their own study methods and progress. Therefore, drawing on the theories of seamless learning and affinity spaces, we conclude that Facebook class groups are important for social affiliation and effective learning.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85074722632&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10984-019-09298-7
DO - 10.1007/s10984-019-09298-7
M3 - Article
VL - 23
SP - 235
EP - 250
JO - Learning Environments Research
JF - Learning Environments Research
SN - 1387-1579
IS - 2
ER -