THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN CAMEROON
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Abstract
The emergent shift in communication patterns with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) innovations seem to present both opportunities and challenges in Higher Education (HE) learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of social media on learning in the University of Buea. The study had two objectives: how WhatsApp and Facebook usages affect students’ learning. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A sample of three hundred and seventy (370) students was used, drawn from a population of 10,124 students. The simple random sampling technique was used. The data was collected using questionnaires. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analysis of data. The findings of the study revealed that, learning in the University of Buea is generally affected by the use of mobile phones. Specifically, it was found that WhatsApp and, Facebook usages affected students’ learning negatively to a greater extent. Again, the study revealed that WhasApp was only a distraction and most of the students did not use it during lessons. Facebook too only helped to slow down learning which led to poor academic performance. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, school administrators, guidance counselors and parents should educate and guide their children on the use of their mobile gadgets especially during lessons.
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References
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