International Journal of Research and Reviews in Education
ISSN: 2056-9726
Vol. 8(1), pp. 1-14, January 2022
doi.org/10.33500/ijrre.2022.8.001

Social media, a tool for academic learning: A multiple case study of Valley View University, Techiman Satellite Campus, Bono East Region, Ghana

Edmond Agyeman Amoako¹* and Samuel Nyamekye Otchere²

¹Department of Education, Methodist College of Education, Ghana.
²Centre for African Studies, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: amoakoagyeman@gmail.com.

Received 12 November, 2021; Received in revised form 22 December, 2021; Accepted 27 December, 2021.

Keywords:
Social media, Academic teaching and learning, Technologies, Benefits and challenges.

The study was focused on investigating social media as a tool for academic learning at Valley View University, Techiman Satelite Campus in the Bone East Region of Ghana. In order to accomplish the purpose of the research, multiple case study design was adopted. The concurrent nested mixed method research approach informed this study. That is all types of data were collected and analysed but one particular data gained dominance. Data collected through interviews and questionnaire were descriptively and thematically analysed. Convenience and simple random sampling procedures were employed in the selection process. The study revealed that students’ were familiar with all social media networks but identified WhatsApp as students’ preference. Students’ perceptions about social media were found out to hover largely around privacy, self-judgmental skills, distractions, negativity, freedom of expression and creativity, innovation and imaginative skill. It was realized that regardless the challenges accompanying social media, the concepts can still be used as a tool to improve academic learning among students since they promote creativity and literacy, facilitate peer teaching and offer good sources of reliable information as well. The study recommends an integration and intensification of ICT and media studies across departmental disciplines in tertiary institutions, government and stakeholder support and commitment to promoting ICT instruction as well as students’ commitment to embrace 21^st century technology.

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