مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد دانشجویان دانشگاه و شبکه های اجتماعی آنلاین – الزویر 2019

1- Introduction

2- Literature review

3- Methodology

4- Results

5- Discussion and conclusions

References

Abstract

Immersed, educated, and raised amid technology, the new student generation is formed by digital natives. The use of online social networks (OSNs) has soared in recent years, and students are among those who have adopted them more enthusiastically. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze how students’ academic life is shaped by the use of such networks. After providing a review of the literature on OSNs and their influence on students, this study presents the results of a survey that proved helpful to assess students’ opinions in this regard. A typology of students based on their perceptions of OSNs is provided. The findings suggest that students value the positive aspects of OSNs to a much greater extent than they value the negative aspects of OSNs.

Introduction

Skills related to collaboration and teamwork undoubtedly stand out for their relevance in current as well as future organizations. Both the firms and the academic institutions which deal with students’ competences stress that learners should be increasingly able to work not only inside teams but also collaboratively, and in an autonomous way (Helm, 2017). Online social networks (OSNs) actually serve such purposes. Teachers are responsible for transforming a technology usually seen as a distraction into a learning tool that can: promote problem solving; make the use of information sources easier; improve collaboration; permit the interaction of students with one another as well as with teachers and experts; and help improve students’ integration into education centers, thus improving their academic performance too (Evans, McFarland, Rios-Aguilar, & Deil-Amen, 2016; Siegle, 2011). However, a number of recent reports have revealed that the obsession with OSNs, which reaches levels above other common addictions such as tobacco (Aladwani & Almarzouq, 2016), may mean a waste of time by the multiple distractions involved. Furthermore, despite all the existing research on the use of Information Technologies as a teaching tool, a better understanding still needs to be acquired about how to exploit them for the creation of collaborative spaces meant to promote deep, long-lasting learning (Magen-Nagar & Shonfeld, 2018). This shows the importance of examining not only the possible problems but also the potential benefits that using OSNs brings to university students. For that purpose, the present research work took advantage of students’ opinions to try to identify the strengths and weaknesses of OSNs as well as their impact on academic performance. With this aim in mind, the literature review is followed by the presentation of the results obtained during a survey carried out among undergraduate students enrolled in subjects related to Human Resource Management. It was additionally being sought to establish a typology of students according to their attitude toward OSNs, and the influence that the latter may have on their studies. Establishing a typology will prove useful for lecturers; if they understand that not all students behave in the same way when it comes to OSNs, that will help develop a variety of action patterns aimed at different student profiles.