Distance education has disrupted our educational norm, with students taking more online courses than ever before. Some research has assumed that online students experience a feeling of isolation, disconnect with their institution, and overall, have a diminished educational experience. During the last 10 years, another phenomenon, social media, has also experienced explosive growth, including the largest and most interwoven into modern society: Facebook. With almost 92% of respondents in this study reporting they use Facebook daily, this study found there was statistical significance (1) between using Facebook for social use and the feelings of isolation; (2) between belonging and participating in an academic Facebook group and the feelings of isolation among online students; (3) between Facebook use with the engagement of online students; (4) between social use of Facebook and connectedness; (5) between belonging and participating in an academic Facebook group and the connectedness of online students; (6) between using Facebook for social use and the satisfaction among online students; and (7) between belonging and participating in an academic Facebook group and satisfaction among online students. Also, this study confirmed that there was indeed a positive relationship in four areas involving a school’s Facebook page, including visiting and participating on a school’s Facebook page and (1) the feelings of isolation among online students; (2) the engagement of online students; (3) the connectedness among online students; and (4) the satisfaction among online students.
| Date of Award | Jan 1 2019 |
|---|
| Original language | English |
|---|
| Supervisor | Shirley Walrod (Supervisor), Michael Simonson (Advisor) & Sergio Guzman (Advisor) |
|---|