Profiling the use of Social Networking Sites by Teachers and Students and Exploring its Effectiveness

Abstract

The enormous impact of the virtual world of 21st century is having such a deep rooted influence on the human race that today it is nearly impossible to think about a life without the Web 2.0 tools. Social Networking Sites is a vital element of these Web 2.0 tools which has become an important part of everyone s life today. People increasingly use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to connect, to share information and knowledge, to create contents and to communicate with each other. To liaison with the way society is growing, the educational institutions are beginning to realize the importance of inculcating the web 2.0 in the regular teaching learning process. Schools are adopting a comprehensive approach to address student internet access. As a result, it seemed immensely important to find out the use and effectiveness of Social Networking Sites in teaching and learning at secondary school level in India. The perspectives of both teachers and learners had to be taken in account of for this purpose. The population of this study consisted of all the secondary and senior secondary school teachers and students who are teaching and studying respectively in private schools of NCR (National Capital Region) and use Facebook or any other Social Networking Site for academic or non-academic purpose. The research investigation was carried out on a sample of 300 teachers out of which 150 were secondary school teachers teaching 9th and 10th class and 150 were senior secondary school teachers teaching 11th and 12th grade selected from 6 schools overall. In addition, a student sample of 300 students from 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th standard was taken. The sample was selected on the basis of Purposive sampling method. The quantitative data generated through Questionnaire and Observation Schedule and Achievement tests was organized, analysed and interpreted in terms of Frequency Percentage through tables and charts and Qualitative findings in Interview Schedule and Observation Schedule were recorded...