Technological Review of Higher Education Student Engagement Enhancement Using the Facebook Social Networking Site (SNS)

Abstract

Can the use of social networking sites, such as Facebook, help engage with the ‘hard to reach’ students within the Higher Education learning environment? The vast majority of Generation Z students are actively engaged with social networking on a daily basis. This suggests the idea, from a pedagogical stance, that social networking may be an effective tool for engaging with students, given its evident widespread use. Considering the use of Facebook presents a range of advantages and challenges in its integration into the classroom and wider student learning experience. The adoption of Facebook is largely positive, if conducted with careful consideration of a range of underlying concepts. This piece presents the author’s views, following a variety of research he has undertaken since 2012 into the use of social networking within the learning environment.