ERIC Number: ED560258
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
Educational and Other Benefits of a Facebook Group forUniversity Students and Graduates in Specific Disciplines
Malouff, John M.; Johnson, Caitlin E.
Online Submission
This article describes a department-coordinated Facebook group for psychology students and graduates. An evaluation of the postings in the past year by the group, with 900 members, showed that the group averaged 2.5 postings per day. The most common types of postings involved (1) information about recent research findings, (2) information about applications of psychological principles, (3) invitations to participate in a study, (4) information related to discipline-relevant work or volunteering, and (5) entertaining information related to the discipline. Anonymous evaluation of the group by 32 members showed that they found valuable and entertaining information on the group page and felt more connected to other students and to the university due to the page. The evaluation also showed that some members were graduates. The findings suggest that department-coordinated Facebook groups have potential to supplement formal university education in psychology and other disciplines and to help students and graduates feel part of a community, even after graduation. Other departments can establish an educational Facebook group by following a simple process.
Descriptors: Social Networks, College Graduates, Psychology, Student Attitudes, Communities of Practice, Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Vocabulary, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Teaching Methods, Reading Comprehension, Receptive Language, Comparative Analysis, Cooperative Learning, Pretests Posttests, Statistical Analysis, Tests, Direct Instruction, Peer Teaching, Immersion Programs, Teacher Qualifications, Instructional Materials
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
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