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Student culture and changing identities: an investigation into the use of new media technologies to enhance educational engagement in open and distance learning

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dc.contributor.advisor Sesanti, Simphiwe
dc.contributor.author Allie, Wasiema
dc.date.accessioned 2019-11-22T09:15:05Z
dc.date.available 2019-11-22T09:15:05Z
dc.date.issued 2018-01
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26024
dc.description Text in English with abstracts in English and Afrikaans en
dc.description.abstract The objective of this study was to investigate how the integration of social media applications such as Facebook can be advantageous to students in Open Distance Learning (ODL) settings or environments. This study was carried out in the context and recognition that the use of social media has become a norm in modern-day society where people in general, and students in particular, can upload videos, images and texts towards achieving a common purpose. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the researcher employed two theoretical frameworks, namely Connectivism and New Media Theory. The study also used Qualitative Research Methodology, particularly the qualitative content analysis research technique and focus group interviews. The study found that the use of Facebook provided students with better access to online resources and facilitated more interaction with fellow students. In an ever-changing world, the study established that technology has the potential to innovate distance learning, providing students with an open space to learn, collaborate and communicate more effectively. This means that social media applications have the power to connect people and bridge the gaps of time and distance. This is especially relevant in ODL environments where students operate in isolated spaces and have little or no direct interaction with their lecturers and fellow students. en
dc.description.abstract Die doel van die studie is om ‘n ondersoek te loods na sosiale media integrasie, meer spesifiek Facebook, en hoe voordelig die gebruik daarvan vir studente in die konteks van ‘n Oop- en Afstandsonderrigleer (OAL) is. Die studie was gedoen binne die konteks, en met inagneming van, hoe die gebruik van sosiale media ‘n norm in die hedendaagse samelewing geword het, en hoe mense oor die algemeen videos, prente, en teks kan oplaai om ‘n gesamentlike akademiese doel te bereik. Ten einde die doel van die betrokke studie te bereik, het die navorser twee teoretiese raamwerke gebruik, naamlik Konnektivisme (Connectivism) en Nuwe media-teorie. Die studie het gebruik gemaak van ‘n kwalitatiewe navorsingsmetode, meer spesifiek kwalitatiewe inhoudsanalise en fokus-groep onderhoude. Die studie het bevind dat die gebruik van Facebook studente beter toegang tot aanlynhulpbronne verleen, en ook meer interaksie tussen studente bewerkstellig. In ‘n veranderende wêreld het die studie bevestig dat die gebruik van tegnologie oor die potensiaal beskik om innoverende afstandonderrig aan te bied en ope platforms vir studente bied om met mekaar saam te werk asook meer effektief te kommunikeer. Sosiale media beskik dus oor die vermoë om mense nader aan mekaar te bring, en ook die gaping van tyd en afstand te oorbrug. Dit is hierin ook die geval waar studente dikwels in isolasie, met min of geen direkte kontak met dosente of mede studente in ‘n OAL konteks, studeer. af
dc.format.extent 1 online resource (134 leaves) : color illustrations
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject Active participation en
dc.subject Facebook en
dc.subject Learning communities en
dc.subject New media technologies en
dc.subject New Media Theory en
dc.subject Online spaces en
dc.subject Open distance learning en
dc.subject Peer collaborating en
dc.subject Social media applications en
dc.subject Social presence en
dc.subject Student engagement en
dc.subject Connectivism
dc.subject.ddc 371.358
dc.subject.lcsh Distance education -- Computer-assisted instruction
dc.subject.lcsh Social media in education
dc.subject.lcsh Distance education -- Effect of technological innovations on
dc.subject.lcsh Facebook (Electronic resource)
dc.subject.lcsh Communication in education
dc.title Student culture and changing identities: an investigation into the use of new media technologies to enhance educational engagement in open and distance learning en
dc.type Dissertation en
dc.description.department Communication Science en
dc.description.degree M.A. (Communication Science)


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