An investigation on the usage of social networking sites for educational purpose at institution of higher learning in Namibia: A focus on the University of Namibia (UNAM) and Polytechnic of Namibia (PON)

Abstract

Despite the high popularity of personal use of online social media, a low percentage of students and lectures use them for educational purposes. This paper is based on a study that investigated the usage of social networking sites for educational purpose. The study employed a qualitative and qualitative research design using triangulation of data collection methods which included interviews and questionnaires. The study's objectives were to find out the educational usage of social networking sites at institution of higher learning, identify how social media can be used for educational purpose in Namibia at institution of higher learning, the type of services used by lecturers and students and suggest appropriate ways of using social media for educational purpose. Interviews were carried out on lectures from the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Polytechnic of Namibia (PON) on their usage of social media and perceptions of using these sites for educational purpose. Lectures perceive that the use of social networking sites could be facilitated by lectures into formal learning environment to enrich discussions, facilitate learning, increase engagement and as well as bring a broad connection into the academic world. In addition, questionnaires were handed out to 44 students at the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia. The questionnaires were divided by two to reach a number of 22 questionnaires per institution also participated in the study where a total of forty students were asked to fill in questionnaires about their usage of social networking sites for educational purposes. Student's perception is that they use social networking sites mostly for communicating with their fellow student' s, friends and relatives. The study came up with some recommendations " such as social networking sites to be used to facilitate discussion and collaborate with students) with clear goals, lecturers to encourage students to use these sites to benefit their studies such as engaging them self in capacity building discussion on a relevant topics.