ERIC Number: EJ1021508
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Apr
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0092-055X
EISSN: N/A
Using Facebook to Engage Learners in a Large Introductory Course
Dougherty, Kevin D.; Andercheck, Brita
Teaching Sociology, v42 n2 p95-104 Apr 2014
Classes of hundreds pose special challenges for teaching and learning. Notable among these challenges is the tendency for students to feel like anonymous spectators rather than active, collaborative participants. To combat this tendency, we used the popular social networking site Facebook to cultivate a sense of community among 200-plus students in an Introduction to Sociology course. The Facebook Group proved a powerful tool for community-building and learning. We describe our Facebook Group, present evidence of its benefits in the course, and discuss the pedagogical potential of social media.
Descriptors: Social Networks, Learner Engagement, Introductory Courses, Classroom Environment, Communities of Practice, College Students, Sociology, Active Learning, Computer Mediated Communication, Group Dynamics, Program Effectiveness, Student Attitudes, Educational Technology, Technology Uses in Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A