Evaluation of higher education services: social media learning

Abstract

Purpose

This research study aims to examine the quality of life and services of higher education through social media in fostering students' learning and environments.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative research methods were used in this study. In the study, as a data collection tool, a semistructured interview form was prepared and questions were asked. A study group was formed with a total of 80 participants in order to analyze the opinions of students studying in the University of Kyrenia.

Findings

According to the findings obtained in the study, it is understood that higher education students generally use Facebook or Instagram especially for following the trainings conducted abroad. It can be said that university students of higher education can follow many educational developments by being members of various educational institutions. In addition to this, university students can be thought to use this tool continuously and intensively in all project or assignment submissions thanks to social media. It is understood that especially university students can communicate with faculty members and access big data when necessary. Again, in this context, thanks to social media, it is understood from the opinions and thoughts received from the participants that they can easily prepare their lessons by making group interviews with each other or with the groups they have formed collectively. It is understood from the findings that the quality can be increased because various trainings can be provided in groups established through social media; thus, the fact that there is an opening to the world and the reason for the exchange of healthy ideas, information and science increases the quality.

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to numbers of research participants from the University of Kyrenia, Faculty of Education in northern part of Cyprus. Social media is used as a medium of learning and development in the research.

Practical implications

It is a study that ensures that if social media services are used correctly in practice, this research will contribute to the continuous development of students.

Social implications

The research conducted contributes to how social media services can be organized through technology in higher education and measurement of learning can be enriched through social media.

Originality/value

With this research, it has a unique value due to the fact that the problems encountered in the use of social media services in universities reveal the problems and solutions. In this context, it shows the contribution of social media on the value added to the learning and learning environments and the benefit of services in higher education.

Citation

Dagli, G., Altinay, F., Altinay, Z. and Altinay, M. (2021), "Evaluation of higher education services: social media learning", International Journal of Information and Learning Technology, Vol. 38 No. 1, pp. 147-159. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-03-2020-0032