1

UKUROVA UNIVERSITY INSTITUE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING DEPARTMENT

THE INFLUENCE OF SOCAL NETWORKNG(FACEBOOK) PARTCPATON ON STUDENTS ATTTUDE TOWARDS ENGLSH

Anzlha ALTUN

Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Jlide NZ

MASTER OF ARTS

ADANA 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study .4 1.3 Aim of the Study.4 1.4 Research Questions..5 1.5 Objectives and Limitations..6 1.7 Operational Definitions6 Chapter 2 Review of Literature..7 Chapter 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Research Design.10

3.2 Participants.10

3.3 Instruments11

3.4 Data Analysis11

ABSTRACT The Influence of technology for social purposes become widespread among people in the past several years . In particular, teeanagers in high school use these kinds of communication forms to keep in touch with their friends and with their families. Social networking websites especiaaly facebook is the most popular for these students to spend their time. For this reason,facebook usage for academic goals is the primary focus of this study. In this research we aim to determine how social networking participation outside the school affects high school students attitude towards english learning . Recommendations for english teachers and further studies will be offered. Keywords: Social Network, Facebook, Profile page, Questionnaire

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study We as teachers are aware of the fact that foreign language learning is a kind of social learning which means not only learning about but also learning to be. There is no doubt that everyone icluded in this process should participate fully and actively to make learning process more meaningful. Teachers should try to find possible ways to make their students to expose this foreign language as possible as they can even by using opportunities outside the shool. It is well-known that today most people especially young ones spend large amount of their time with social networks such as facebook. Teachers can use this fact as an advantage for his/her coursess. Facebook also provides culture of sharing by a more feasible way with the internet and web2.0. As Wankel, C, stated (2011) facebook can be a good way to include students into foreign language learning process but teachers should keep their Professional status and keep their formal realtionship with their students. Facebook and educational practices can be connected both informally by forming a community with students where they can discuss their courses, download their course notes, find out what they missed in courses. Social media and technology tools can help educators teach more effectively, make lessons easy to understand, and encourage interaction from the students. Social media and technology tools can help educators teach more effectively, make lessons easy to understand, and encourage interaction from the students. Social network is a good oportunity for parents to what their children do at school. Social media creates a much stronger link between the home and the school. Parents can often see not only their child's work, but all the "learning that's occurring in the classroom." Can spending time on sites like Facebook actually help kids in school? Thats what new research from the University of Maryland suggests. Professor Christine Greenhow has found that students build important bonds when they connect with school friends on social networking sites.

When kids feel connected and have a strong sense of belonging to the school community, they do better in school, said Greenhow, an education professor. They persist in school at higher rates and achieve at higher rates. ... Its pretty promising that engaging in social networking sites could help them to develop and deepen their bonds over time. Greenhow surveyed about 600 low-income high school students and concluded that in addition to deepening friendships, some students use the sites to get tips about college and career options.

1.2 Aim of the study As stated above , this study will focus on social networks contributions into students perceptions towards language learning process by considering authentic environment , immediate feedback , ease of self expression in a cyber learning environment with authentic material.

1.3 Research questions

This study seeks to answers to the following questions: 1. Do social networks have a role on students perceptions towards english language learning? 2.Are english lesson teachers aware of the benefits of the social websites usage?

3 Can .social networks and the english lessons content be integrated outside the class?

This study relies on the data collected from students answers to questions about their perceptions both about social network and english lessons at the beginning of the

research process and at the end of the research process seeking answers to above stated questions

1.4 Objectives and limitations

This study aims to seek advantages of implementing social network; facebook outside class and to provide benefits of the usage of the facebook as an integrated part of the english courses in class.A number of popular press articles provide evidence that some perspective and current teachers have much to learn in regards to privacy and Professional- personal boundairies on facebook ( Helms, 2008; Shapira, 20089). It is important to maintain a level of professionalism that does not cross the boundary of the teaching- student relationship. It is important for teachers to keep their Professional boundaries with students. Besides, teachers should take some precautions to prevent possible disadvantages of facebook usage.

1.5 Operational Definitions

Social networking: Social networking is any action done on the Internet that involves publishing and sharing content online, either for social or professional purposes. Social networking is conducted through social media channels such as blogs, podcasts, online forums, instant messages, email and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Profile Page: A profile is an informal description a registered user inputs about himself on a social media website. Many social media and social networking sites require users to register for an account which then allows them to create a profile page filled with information, photos, and links. Some can be very elaborate and include a blog, songs, and applications they subscribe to. Facebook: Facebook is a popular free social networking website that allows

registered users to create profiles, upload photos and video, send messages and keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues.

7 Questionnaire: List of a research or survey questions asked to respondents, and

designed to extract specific information. It serves four basic purposes: to (1) collect the appropriate data, (2) make data comparable and amenable to analysis, (3) minimize bias in formulating and asking question, and (4) to make questions engaging and varied.

CHAPTER 2 REVEW OF LTERATURE Facebook was developed by a group of students at Harvard university at the beginning of 2004 and designed for college and University students although its use has migrated quickly into business, it is relatively conventional social-networking on line environment modelled ostensibly on the US school 2 year books where brief written profiles of incoming students are presented alongside a photograph. (Selwyn, N, ) On facebook, users present themselves to others within a similiar although far more extensive framework. An Individuals facebook page can include a portrait photograph, a status tag where the user can record their current activity, mood or thoughts, a list of friends and the local Networks with which the user is afilliated personal contact details including postal address and mobile phone number as well as a min-feed of recent facebook activity which is shared with other users ( detailing when and how the users had been making alterations or adding contents). It is a well-known fact that there are variety of benefits to young people associated with the use of social networks . To clarify this case; we begin by taking a closer look at functions of social networks. These are; Media literacy, formal educational outcomes, informal education and learning, creativity, individual identity and self expression, strengthening social relationships, belonging and collective identity, building and strengthening communities civic and political participation. Pedagocial experts have argued that social media has a big impact on how we learn and how we get ideas. This fact let them find a new type of pedagogy called connectivism that considers social medias implications . Connectivism build on the idea that learners role is not to memorize information but to find and apply knowledge when and where it is needed.(Gualtieri, L.&Javetski, G.) The term connectivism refers to learning occurs through building networks of information contacts. And resources that are applied to real problems. By using social media in education, students have a chance to experience a different way of learning.

Using social networks in an academic context is more attractive for young users than the classical ones. Because social networks present more interesting and motivating tools and content.(Gillet,El Helou, Yu& Salzmann, 2008) It is a fact that social networks adopted and accepted rapidly. There are several reasons for this: Social network has an ease at use that everybody can use it without having any difficulties. It alows us rapid updating , analyzing and sharing continuously increasing information stemming from our daily life. Social networks provides spontenous relationships . It also alows interaction and communication , which means informal learning practice. It facilitates delivery of education. ( Ajjan & Hartshorne, 2008) Facebook can be used as an educational tool : First of all, it enables peer feedback through social interaction. Second it allows students share their ideas in an interactive way. Third, it enables students to interact with authentic people in an authentic environment. Finally, social network makes their learning meaningful. Technology helps to provide an active learning style, interactivity, self-control, motivation, immediate feedback, the ability to learn diverse and practical knowledge ( Yang, Chen , 2006) Social networks also helps students to express themselves in a more comfortable way. They can get the taste of learning from and with their peers ( Elmaziye & Birikim, 2009). Today facebook as a social networking site has 400+ million active users, 500 billion minutes per month: This means 160 million objects, 60 pages group and events, 70 pieces of content , 25 billion pieces of content.(Saykl, A,2007) According to the Schiefle (1991) student motivation for learning can be tied to student interest. ( cited in Weber Martin & Cayanus , 2005, p.71). The use of technology has demonstrated the effectiveness of increasing student interest. (Keller, Suzuki, 2004). Keller and Suzuki describe a process designed ARCS model. (Keller, 1987). This model based on attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction. The ARCS model is based on four beliefs: A lesson must gain and maintain attention, build relevance , and instill confidence. These are necessary to establish motivation.

10

Today, students have a world based on computers. We as teachers should find a way to engage these tool in education in a way. Facebook is a network that connects students with other students , indirectly creating a learning community- vital component of student education ( Baker, 1999). Facebook increases both teacher- student and student- student interaction in the form of web- based communication. Facebook helps instructors connect with their students about assignments , upcoming events , useful links, and samples of work outside of the classroom.

11

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design

This study will be qualitative (descriptive )study based on questionnaires applied to students to reveal their perceptions towards language learning . then the teacher will create a profile page for her students . this group page will enable teacher to share variable activities , useful links and lesson revision with her students in a more comfortable environment. The teacher will also get immediate feedback from her students , and this will improve teacher for a better profession.At the end of the about 12 weeks again a questionnaire will be applied to student to reveal whether their perceptions towards language learning via facebook changed or not.Interviews will be conducted with participants individually to understand their feelings and views as to use of facebook as an educational tool to change their perceptions towards foreign language learning experiences.
3.2 Participants Qualitative researches usually work with small samples of people, nested in their context and studied in-depth unlike quantitative researchers who aim for larger numbers of context stripped cases and statiscal significance .(Miles,M.B&Huberman,A.M:1994) The participants will be consisted of 10th grade students in Farabi Anatolian High School in Adana in 2012-2013 academic year. Purposive sampling strategy will be used in this study The researcher will do interviews at the beginning of the research to be sure whether students have a facebook account and whether they have an Ethernet Access at home. The ones who have will be included in this research.

12 3.3 Instruments

Interviews and questionnairies will be used as the data collection tools.Also teacher will create a profile page for her students. This page will include the list of students. Teacher will use this page to post information and websites on their profile and group page for students to download and use for class. 3.4 Data Analysis

While analyzing interviews, coding system will be used to evaluate the results. Interview will be conducted with participants individually to understand their views as to use of facebook as an educational tool to support their foreign language learning experiences. Data from interviews will be compared with the content on participants facebook page and/or with activities on his/her facebook page. At the end, A questionnaire will be conducted with partcipants to see whether there is a significant change on participants views about foreign

language learning process.. All the data collected will be analyzed via SPSS(Statistical Package fort he Social Sciences) This study focuses on the potentiel of the facebook to support foreign language teaching and explores users perceptions and ideas about the experinces they have had using this particular social networking site to interact and to learn.

13

REFERENCE LIST Collin, P., Rahilly, K., Richardson, I. & Third, A. (2011) The Benefits of Social Networking Services: A literature review. Cooperative Research Centre for Young People, Technology and Wellbeing. Melbourne.Retrieved August,20,2012 from www.interactivemediarelease.com Munoz. C, L & Towner, Terri L,(2009) Opening Facebook: How to Use Facebook In the College Classroom. Fairleigh University, Oakland University. Retrieved September, 2,2012 From: www.villanova.edu Selwyn, N Screwblackboard: Do it on Facebook! : an investigation of students educational use of facebook. 15th November, 2007. Retrieved September ,4, 2012 from: www.scribd.com Saykl. A. (2007) A Potential to Support Foreign Language Teaching. Afyon Kocatepe University. Retrieved September, 6, 2012 from. www.slideshare.net Flad, Kaitlyn, "The Influence of Social Networking Participation on Student Academic Performance Across Gender Lines" (2010). Counselor Education Master's Theses. Paper 31. Retrieved September. 1, 2012 from. http://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/edc_theses/31 Gualtieri, L. Javetski, G. & Corless, H.(2009) Integratng Technology n theEnglsh Classroom to Improve Student Motvaton. Missouri State University.Retrieved September, 2,2012 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/52076516/IntegratingTechnology-in-the-English-Classroom

Keller, J.M. (1987a). Development and use of the ARCS model of instructional design. Journal of Instructional Development, 10(3), 2-10 Elmaziye, & Birirkim . Web 2.0 in learning English: the student perspective Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences , vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 326-330, 2009. Retrieved September 5,2012 from http://libra.msra.cn/Publication/41415625/web-2-0-in-learning-english-the-studentperspective

14

Yang Su,E. (August 26,2011). Social networking helps students perform better, professor says. Retrieved September16, 2012 from http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/social-networking-helps-students-performbetter-professor-says-12292 Weber, K. Martin, M. M. & Cayanus, J. L. (2005). Student interest: a two-study reexamination of the concept. Communication Quarterly, 53(1), 71. Retrieved September 8, 2012, from Ebscohost

15