Learning and Teaching Mathematics with Online Social Networks: The Case of Facebook

Abstract

We present here a study in which a digital-based communication platform is used for collaborative work in the learning and teaching processes. In this case, we focused on Facebook as the online social network to help motivate high-school students to become well prepared for their Bagrut (matriculation) exam in mathematics. To this end, the Center for Educational Technology (CET) established a “virtual review session” on Facebook before the exam in which 614 students and 16 teachers participated. We aimed to answer two questions: what learning and teaching opportunities can Facebook offer to prepare students for the mathematics matriculation exam? and how do students and teachers perceive learning processes via social networks? Our analysis was qualitative. The findings indicate that Facebook, for one, can offer excellent learning and teaching opportunities as a result of the interactions that evolve between the students themselves and between the students and teachers. For the students, this digital social platform helps promote peer evaluation, exposes them to a wide range of questions and solutions, and fosters the development of mathematical thinking and creativity. For the teachers, it helps expand their technological and pedagogical-mathematical knowledge.

Pupils’ Profiles of Social Media Usage in Mathematics with a Special Look at Facebook

“…These platforms would encourage both pupils and teachers the habit of having mathematics intellectual discourses on and off the classroom to better prepare them for their exams. Consistent with Biton and Segal (2021), whose study suggested that Facebook as an online "social network" can be used to help motivate secondary school pupils to become well prepared for their final mathematics examinations.…”

“…There are several studies (e.g. see Arteaga Sánchez, Cortijo, & Javed, 2014;Aydin, 2012;Kaban, 2021a;Mulenga & Marbán, 2020;Susilo, 2014;Biton & Segal, 2021) showing that Facebook is among the social media tools which contribute positively to the educational environment.…”

“…In a nutshell, the reviewed literature (e.g. Biton, & Segal, 2021;Kaban, 2021a;Kaban, 2021b;Kelley, 2021;Lampropoulos, Siakas, et al, 2021;Mulenga & Marbán, 2020) have highlighted the facets that drive students to the use of social media, with a special look at the use of Facebook and provide an important addition to the existing knowledge. The present results are preliminary findings of the larger ongoing project.…”

Strategi Meningkatkan Kreativitas Dan Inovasi Pembelajaran Pasca Pembelajaran Daring Di Kecamatan Tanjung Kabupaten Lombok Utara

“…Seorang guru agar berhasil menerapkan pembelajaran jarak jauh tentu harus mampu membawakan materi pembelajaran dengan efektif dan efisien (Barak et al, 2016). Suatu pembelajaran dikatakan efektif apabila pembelajaran tersebut mampu meningkatkan minat dan motivasi apabila setelah pembelajaran peserta didik menjadi lebih termotivasi untuk belajar lebih giat dan memperoleh hasil belajar yang lebih baik (Biton & Segal, 2021).…”

Evaluate Recovery of Prospective Elementary School Teachers Using Quizizz: Is It Effective?

“…Students must familiarize themselves learning independently with minimal help from the teacher. Students should be more active in digging up information individually rather than in groups which might often be done when lecturing activities are carried out on campus (Biton & Segal, 2021). Online learning activities carried out independently, have eliminated aspects of social interaction that may be established between lecturers-students and students during lectures.…”