The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University

Waleed Alenezi; Thomas M. Brinthaupt

doi:10.30935/cedtech/11476

Waleed Alenezi ¹ ^* , Thomas M. Brinthaupt ²

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CONT ED TECHNOLOGY, Volume 14, Issue 1, Article No: ep340

https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Submitted: 04 February 2021, Published Online: 03 January 2022

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Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of social media by students in the Faculty of Education, University of Kuwait. The study was conducted within the context of the socio-cultural characteristics of Kuwait, and was underpinned by Alsaied’s (2017) Social Media - Learning Performance model, designed for female Arab students. A volunteer sample of 35 Kuwaiti undergraduate students (88.6% female) was interviewed. Students reported frequently using social media informally for socialization and entertainment, but less frequently as a formal educational tool. Most of the students perceived that social media facilitated interaction with peers, interaction with faculty, engagement, and collaborative learning. However, technical difficulties, and certain negative attitudes towards women using social media, were identified. We recommend that Kuwait University needs to harness the full benefits of social media for teaching and learning and to formulate official guidelines to control the use of social media by all faculty members and students.

Keywords: social media, Kuwait, learning performance, interaction with peers, interaction with faculty, student engagement, collaborative learning

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Citation

Alenezi, W., & Brinthaupt, T. M. (2022). The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University. Contemporary Educational Technology, 14(1), ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Alenezi, W., and Brinthaupt, T. M. (2022). The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University. Contemporary Educational Technology, 14(1), ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Alenezi W, Brinthaupt TM. The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2022;14(1), ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Alenezi, Waleed, and Thomas M. Brinthaupt. "The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University". Contemporary Educational Technology 2022 14 no. 1 (2022): ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Alenezi, Waleed et al. "The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University". Contemporary Educational Technology, vol. 14, no. 1, 2022, ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476

Alenezi W, Brinthaupt TM. The Use of Social Media as a Tool for Learning: Perspectives of Students in the Faculty of Education at Kuwait University. CONT ED TECHNOLOGY. 2022;14(1):ep340. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476