Facebook Groups: Perception and Usage among Undergraduates in the Context of Learning

This study presents and evaluates the educational potentials and benefits that Social Network Services (SNSs) offer to students in the higher education context. Based on Social Learning Theory, we explored students’ perception and learning activities in Facebook Groups (i.e. Facebook Learning Groups), and the learning and affective benefits that SNSs offer to students. We further explored the influence of four attributes (i.e. self-efficacy, trust, privacy and presence of teaching members) in moderating individuals’ perception and learning activities on SNSs. Results from a survey accompanied by data collected from a Facebook Learning Group demonstrate the usefulness of these learning groups. Findings also indicate that trust and presence of teaching members do play influential roles in affecting students’ perception and usage of Facebook Learning Groups.