Investigating Graduate Students' Academic Identity Development Through Social Media

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Technology, Instruction, Cognition and Learning SIG: Students' Experiences With Technology

Abstract

Recently, researchers have shown an increased interest in exploring how social network sites (SNS) are used in education (e.g. Aydin, 2012; Gao, Luo, & Zhang, 2012; Greenhow et al., 2014; Hew, 2011; Manca & Ranieri, 2013). Attention has been paid to understand undergraduate students’ SNS use (e.g. Bicen & Cavus, 2011; Evans, 2014) and how social media impacts teaching and learning (e.g. Evans, 2014; Greenhow & Robelia, 2009). Even though it is clear that SNS use in education has a growing importance, limited research has focused on graduate students’ SNS use. Results from a case study found that graduate students used social media to grow their network, create a support system, seek affirmation, build academic presence, and display multiple identities.

Authors

• Ozlem Karakaya, Iowa State University

• Long He, Iowa State University

• Benjamin William Gleason, Iowa State University