Research Report: Social Media and Higher Education Students

This report examines the use of social media by higher education (HE) students, exploring various platforms and their purposes. It investigates how social media enhances student learning, engagement, and communication, while also considering potential distractions. The research delves into the specific platforms used by HE students, such as Facebook and Twitter, and their roles in educational activities, information sharing, and networking. The report evaluates the reliability and relevance of literature sources, including academic journals and online databases. It also discusses the positive impacts of judicious social media use, such as improved language skills and access to educational resources. The report concludes by emphasizing the critical role social media plays in the lives of HE students, providing an in-depth analysis of its influence on academic performance and overall student experience.

Research Skills and Using
Information

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PART B...........................................................................................................................................6
Description of the literature sources............................................................................................6
Process used to select the literature sources................................................................................7
Summary of literature and data....................................................................................................8
Evaluation of the reliability and relevance of the literature sources...........................................9
Reflection...................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Social media plays a very important role in the life of Higher education students and its
various platforms are used by them for various purposes. Research skills are basically the
abilities for finding answers to the questions or finding the solution to the problem. The skills
help in gathering the information about the topic, reviewing the information along with analysing
and interpreting the information in such a manner that helps in bringing solution to the problem.
The topic chosen i.e., “The use of social media by higher education (HE) students – which
platforms and for what purposes” is useful nowadays as most of the people and especially the HE
students are totally depended on the social networking platforms so that they can share and
complete their task also. The research on this topic was chosen as this is used by most of the
people and its demand will increase by day. So the people must be updated and upgraded
according to the situations and time.
Part A

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 Background to the problem
 Summary of the literature
 Evaluation of the reliability and
relevance of the literature
sources
 CONCLUSION
 REFERENCES

BACKGROUNDTOTHEPROBLEM
 Social media is playing a meaningful role in the higher education
which is increasing day by day. Social media can help in enhancing
the journey of student’s learning along with making the connection
of students and educators easier.
 The use of social media is increasing nowadays because through
these platforms of social media the teachers can easily connect with
the students and also if social media is embedded in the lessons
also, then the learning can become more relatable, interesting and
engaging.

CONTINUED…
 This can be in various forms like blogs, social networking
sites, vlogs, virtual communities and even instant
messaging.
 This enhances the relationships between the students and
the teachers as the students find it easier in communicating,
accessing information and providing information as well.
 Along with learning, it also helps to create awareness and
advertise.
 The students can also be recruited through these social
media platforms which also help in providing perfect
platform for highlighting new courses, teaching staff,
research and the facilities in campus for attracting more
students.

SUMMARY OF THE LITERATURE
 Earlier, social media was used more for marketing as the
universities used various platforms of social media for
recruiting budding scholars, promoting the spirit of
institutions and raising the fundraiser dollars.
 But these platforms are now more used as communication
channels. The students have started using the social media
platforms as online technologies in the learning
environments.
 This has enhanced the learning, helped in increasing the
engagement and participation of students along with
improving the content dissemination and pedagogy and
sharing of information more efficiently.

CONTINUE…
 The social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook,
Google+, Myspace, Instagram, LinkedIn and many more are
used by the higher education students.
 This was observed that 90% of the students use Facebook
for educational purposes and 31% of the students preferred
using Twitter as a communication tool.
 On one hand, these social networking sites helps the
students to make contacts with the educated people but on
the other hand this was also observed that while studying,
the higher education students make use of the social media
and get distracted which also affects their performance
greatly.

CONTINUE…
 The students can also attend various educational programs
on the Facebook like environments.
 Facebook helps the students of the colleges greatly in the
educational activities. This was also evaluated that the
students also used these platforms for the research purposes
which enhanced their knowledge and learning.
 Similar thing was observed with the use of Twitter also that
Twitter is also helping the students by becoming a tool
which facilitates the growth of the learning network which
is referred to as personal learning network.

CONTINUE…
 The main role played by the
social media is that the
students can be facilitated in
both ways either in
participating in formal
learning conditions which is
studying of the course
material or in informal

learning conditions which helps in looking for relevant
information everywhere.
 The students can also take its benefits as they can match
their capabilities and skills along with the way of thinking
with the other well known and great people which create a
sense of competitiveness and help them to increase their
abilities.
CONTINUE…
 The first year students make use to get the information of the
faculties through their seniors on the social media platforms
which makes them feel familiar to the college and the
faculties.
 This can also be elucidated that Facebook is also used by the
HE students to improve their fluency in English and their
vocabulary.
 This helped the students for enhancing their language skills
also.
 If used judiciously, social media can help the HE students
greatly whose benefits can be with them forever whereas if
not used judiciously then it can also distract the students and
destroys their academic performance.

EVALUATION OF THE RELIABILITY
AND
RELEVANCE OF THE LITERATURE
SOURCES
 The literature sources helped in knowing the role of
social media in the life of HE students.
 This also influences the performances of the students
positively. The students using Facebook judiciously got
better results as compared to when they were depended
on traditional methods of learning.