Engagement In a Virtual Learning on Two Social Networks Of An Engineering course using the Social Network Analysis- An approach using a case study

Abstract

This study aims to investigate learning engagements in two social networks-blog and Facebook, used for engineering course as a scale-up handle to examine the students ‘participation in learning. The research question it used is finding the extent of studenf's engagement on the formal and the informal virtual learning sites. Engineering students' class' social network sites were used for the class activity and dataset was built from their interactions which further provides the social network analysis and statistical tool data to analyze metrics and properties. Collaborated groups were created by social network analysis. It investigated the connections of participants and unveiled network structure of participants' interactions. It found that a structured network such as Facebook are better suitable for learning interactions than a slapdash structured social network site. The study also found that students are more inclined to the former than the blog. The results provide an enlightenment and prior step to choosing appropriate sites should learning be situated on social network sites supplement to laboratory's introductory.