Emergence of Learning Community Through a Student-Created and -Led Facebook Group in a Physics Course

• In Event: 56.081 - Roundtable Session 24
  In Roundtable Session: 56.081-15 - Learning out of School

Abstract

Social media as an undeniable factor in social life of youths has been the focus of many educational studies. However, most studies examined teachers’ social media use toward the educational goals they set. Not much is known about students' use toward their own educational goals. We draw on transformative activist stance to analyze data from a student-initiated Facebook group in an introductory physics course and interviews with the members. Our goal is to illustrate the emergence of learning community and collaboration and tools that Facebook afforded for the students to set and achieve collective goals and engage with learning process. Understanding and respecting the students’ goals and collaboration might guide educators to take a collaborative stance in their teaching.

Authors

• Sanaz Farhangi, Florida International University

• Pooneh Sabouri, New York University