THE DEDICATED SOCIAL NETWORKING APPLICATION CONCEPT FOR CONTEXTUAL LEARNING

Abstract

As a result of the changes brought about by COVID-19, students are readjusting to the new learning situation. They are employing various means and methods to accommodate the new constraints. Teachers and learners alike have gained new pedagogical experience as the context for teaching and learning has been changed by the pandemic. Technological advancement has empowered various pedagogical approaches to ease the learning process. In this study, we applied a user-centered design principle to design a dedicated social media application for educational purposes. Social media and other digital channels have become essential mediums for digital native students. These tools, e.g., email, chat, search engines, etc., are often scattered and not embedded in a single platform. Tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Moodle are appropriate mediums for teaching and learning, but they are not suitable for students on the move to perform their tasks or teamwork activities. The results of our study indicate that students need a social media based learning platform for efficiency and effectiveness in their learning process. The application concept also appealed to the target users.