Unpacking College Students’ Tagging Activities and Networked Knowledge

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable 9:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Instructional Technology in Diverse Environments (Table 24)

Abstract

Guided by the Networked Knowledge Activities (NKA) framework (Authors, 2019), this mixed-methods study explored the frequency and characteristics of knowledge tagging activities in online settings among 63 college undergraduates in a US public university. The findings reveal that undergraduates often engage in people tagging activities, tagging individuals from their close networks–friends and family. However, content tagging activities were engaged less frequently. The content involved in these tags includes creative works, funny images, videos, and news. They initiate tagging on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat. Reasons for engagement and disengagement were identified. The implications of these findings for educators in preparing college students for the digital workplace by integrating tagging into teaching are presented.

Authors

• Dan He, Florida State University

• Vanessa Dennen, Florida State University