Social networks supporting the higher education in the czech republic

Abstract

In this paper results of survey focused on social networking, particularly of the exploitation of social networks in the higher education are presented. The research question is what social networks are preferred and who their users are (from the point of gender and study programme). Moreover, the use of mobile devices is also investigated, as they often are the means through which students access to social networks. Data were collected by the method of questionnaire in the research sample of 205 students of the Faculty of Informatics and Management, University of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, matriculated in IT and Management study programmes in 2013/14 academic year. Three social networks were detected as the most frequently accessed (Facebook, Google + and LinkedIn) by both male and female users but differences were discovered between the groups of IT students and Management students. The collected data verified didactic recommendations defined by other authors on how the potential of social networks can be used towards independent learning on the higher education level.