Twitter for teaching: Can social media be used to enhance the process of learning?

Twitter for teaching: can social media be used to enhance the process of learning? Chris Evans Chris Evans is a Senior Lecturer in the Brunel Business School at Brunel University. His research interests include interactivity, Web 2.0 and social media, multimedia learning technology, and the adoption of innovative learning technologies. He is Chair of the annual eLearning 2.0 international conference on social media for learning. Address for correspondence: Dr Chris Evans, Brunel Business School, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected] Abstract Can social media be used to enhance the process of learning by students in Higher Education? Social media have become widely adopted by students in their personal lives. However, the application of social media to teaching and learning remains to be fully explored. In this study, the use of the social media tool Twitter for teaching was considered. Undergraduate students in Business and Management (n=252) were encouraged to use Twitter for communicating with their tutor and each other during a twelve-week course. Their involvement was evaluated using a survey considering amount of Twitter usage and students’ attitudes and experiences. The data were analysed using factor analyses, which revealed a single usage construct and three attitudinal factors. Three findings emerged. Firstly, a positive correlation was found between amount of Twitter usage and student engagement in University-associated activities including organising their social lives and sharing information. Secondly, course-related tweeting was not related to interpersonal relationships between students and their tutor. Thirdly, Twitter usage did not impact class attendance. The results are salient for educational practitioners wishing to introduce social media into their teaching.