A recent Australian study found concerns about
integrating too much social media into massive open online courses (MOOCs).
Carpe Diem, a MOOC offered in 2014, used Facebook and Twitter for online
communication and collaboration, but about half of the course participants didn’t
use either.
According to the study,
41% refused to use social media because they
felt it blurred the line between their social and professional identities. Nearly
50% were also unhappy with the learning management system (LMS) used by the
course.
Respondents complained that the social media sites were
intimidating to use and created confusion. Some said it took too much time to
check into the LMS, Facebook, and Twitter, while others thought it would have
worked better if social media worked within the LMS.
Facilitated discussions, work sharing with peers, and
networking opportunities were the most-cited benefits of using social media
platforms within MOOCs. However, the group that wasn’t as thrilled saw Facebook
and Twitter as useless.
“It may be useful to outline in detail to students the
contributions that social learning can bring to a MOOC and, indeed, to any
online learning environment,” the researchers wrote.
“Those who believe that conversations on social media are a waste of time may
view things differently if they understand how conversations and knowledge
sharing with their peers can support their learning experience.”
