Adapting social media for formal learning in Nigeria: Challenges and prospects
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Date
2014-04
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN Chapter)
Abstract
Educationist and communication experts have in the past advocated for a flexible learning aimed at
meeting individual needs, while at the same time providing both the learner and the instructor the
opportunity to interactively relate outside the structured environment. Thus when social media started
out as a fun way to connect with friends and families, experts saw it as a powerful tool for education
beyond their uses as avenue to socialize. Today, many students and educationists are using sites like
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, MySpace, Flicker, Netlog, Slideshare and tools such as
Skype, Ovoo, and Yahoo messenger to connect students to learning opportunities in new and exciting
ways. As part of the growing influence for enhancing education, the Osun state government recently
gave out smart phone dubbed “opon imo” (tablet of knowledge) to all secondary pupils in the state
loaded with several learning materials. Using the exploratory method, the authors explore ways in
which social media can be used to enhance formal learning by identifying opportunities and
challenges inherent thereof. The authors concluded that social media provide better opportunities to
help student take their learning experience outside the classroom to wherever they are but noted that
cost of acquisition and sustenance could pose as challenge for those in the lower income bracket of
the society.
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Keywords
Formal Education, Social Media, Flexible Learning