IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TEACHING AND LEARNING: THE CASE OF NURSING TRAINING COLLEGE, WA

Abstract

This study aims at determining the impact of social media on teaching and learning: the case of the Nursing Training College (NTC), Wa. The basis for the research was to explore the connection between the engagement in social media and students' study efficiency. It sought to determine if social media interfere with students' academic lives. The study was a survey design. Questionnaire and observation were the instruments used for collecting data for this study. Both students and tutors in the NTC, Wa responded to the questionnaire items. Sections of the students were also observed in the ICT laboratory as they interacted with computers. Nine tutors ofNTC, Wa, and one hundred and ten students formed the sample for the study. The students were year one and two students studying Health Assistant Clinical and Registered General Nursing. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the tutors while the students were conveniently chosen. The results showed that students of NTC, Wa engage in variety of social media networks. Top on the list of social media networks used by students were Facebook (90.9%), WhatsApp (68.2%) and Google+ (69.1%). Students indicated using social media largely for the purposes of learning, socialization, and entertainment. The majority of the students (88.2%) agreed that they perceive social media as a good thing. Most of the student participants (73.6%) agreed to the statement that, social media has made a positive impact on their academic performance. The majority of the participants (70%) disagreed that they were addicted to social media. It was therefore recommended that Interactive social networks should be developed by tutors, Health Training Institutions (HTls), and the Ministry of Health (MoH) for teaching and learning purposes.