Using web 2.0 social networking to enhance collaborative learning in preparing graduation events

Abstract

This article reports on research that attempted to find out how physical education professionals in the university environment are responding to the increasing importance and visibility of web 2.0 tools and social networking in Taiwan. The purpose of the study is to explore how the web 2.0 social networking and its influence on college students' learning behavior in preparing graduation events. Two hundred and sixty-nine individuals voluntarily signed up a group, "Sport Broadway in NCUE", for the annually graduation events on Facebook. Total 512 postings and responses had been posted and 2434 likes were collected and analyzed by quantitatively and qualitatively. Descriptive statistics in quantitative data and constant comparison in qualitative information were analyzed with the SPSS 15.0 and QSR Nvivo 7. The results identified that announcement, sharing feelings, encouragement, asking questions, and critiques are five major functions of posting. In addition, "like" which means "agree" and easy positive feedback in Facebook was given most frequently when critiques and sharing encouragement. The finding showed that Web 2.0 social networking are viable way to motivate colleague students to collaborate and learn to accomplish tasks and to overcome challenges. However, the quality of posts and comments were easily out of control when the levels of stress rises and emotions come. The study implicates that Web 2.0 social networking is worth to promote and to be developed as an educational tool in college levels. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.