Abstract:

Facebook, the most popular social networking site, can also be used for educational purposes. In order to be able to use Facebook more effectively in the educational environment design, it is necessary to determine which reasons individuals are connected to Facebook and whether these reasons change according to the various features. But there is no understanding of this in the summer. The aim of this study is to identify the reasons for teachers’ candidates to connect to Facebook and to study according to the various variables. In this study, conducted using an image scan model based on the analysis of Nicel data, the 2018-2019 Siirt University School of Education has reached 525 with the appropriate sampling of students. The study found that the teacher candidates were linked to Facebook for the purpose of searching for the most information, then continuing communication and starting at least communication. It has been found that male teacher candidates are linked to Facebook more than female teacher candidates for reasons to start and maintain communication. However, it was found that the reasons for connecting to Facebook did not change according to the registered section. Finally, between the reasons for connecting to Facebook, relationships at a medium and high level are found in a positive direction. In the light of these findings, Facebook is used in the educational environment design and it is predicted that it will be effective to keep interaction through Facebook limited to students in the same class, and to share information through Facebook. Similar studies should be repeated with students from different regions and universities and different departments, taking different social networks to the center. Furthermore, the study of the reasons for linking to Facebook or any social networking site to the social capital, the course success and other features such as academic selfishness will also lead to the ability to use social networking sites more actively for educational purposes.

Keywords:

Abstract:

Facebook, which is the most commonly used social networking site can also be used for educational purposes. In order to use Facebook more effectively in educational environment design, it is necessary to determine the reasons why individuals are connected to Facebook and whether these reasons change according to various characteristics. However, there is not any accepted agreement regarding this field in the literature. The aim of this study is to determine the reasons why teacher candidates connect to Facebook and analyze these reasons in terms of various variables. In this study which was conducted using a descriptive screening model via the analysis of quantitative data that are obtained from 525 students, who are enrolled at Siirt University Faculty of Education during 2018-2019 academic year, were reached through convenience sampling method. We found that teacher candidates connect to Facebook most frequently for the purposes of searching for information, followed by maintaining relationship and starting relationship the least. Compared to female teacher candidates, male teacher candidates connect to Facebook more frequently with initiating a relationship and maintaining a relationship purpose. On the other hand, reasons for connecting to Facebook did not change with respect to the registered program. Finally, positive relations at medium and high levels were observed among the reasons for connecting to Facebook. In the light of the findings of this study, it is suggested that limiting the interaction through Facebook only to the students in the same class and sharing information via Facebook will be effective in situations where Facebook is used in the design of educational environments. Similar studies should be repeated with students from different programs and from universities that are in different regions by taking different social networking sites into the centre as well. In addition, analyzing the reasons for connecting to Facebook or any other social networking site with respect to other student characteristics such as social capital, school success and academic self-efficacy will lead to more active use of social networking sites for educational purposes.