Development of English Language Learning Community via

Social Network as Facebook for Information Science Undergraduate Students

Wilawan Phornphatcharaphong*

Department of Information Science, Faculty of Informatics,

Mahasarakham University, Thailand 44150

(* e-mail : jaom97@gmail.com)

ABSTRACT

This research aims to synthesis and implement of Learning Community via facebook for improving English language competence of Information science students. The methodology presented in two phases; synthesis of learning community as first phase, implementation and evaluating of satisfactory among information students at Mahasarkham University as final phase. The results found that there are three components of language learning community for Information science students via facebook. There are social context, activities context, and technology context. The procedures of language learning community related with three steps, preparation, activities, and evaluation. Undergraduate students felt satisfied mostly for language learning community in the area of Activities (x =4.62) and technology (x =4.52)

Keywords

Learning Community, Online Learning Community, Online Community, Facebook

INTRODUCTION

Since the nature of human enjoy living and doing activities together, people create the ways of communication among diverse and sophisticated social environment with useful applications, such as mail, telephone and Internet. The number of Internet users in Thailand has increased steadily and people who have similar interests often contact others for exchange information. The phenomenon is called "social network"

Social network is a social model that have occurred since the advancement of the Internet, causing connectivity through high-speed networks (Broadband Internet) makes it possible to transfer large amounts of data in a short time, and the high speed internet services at lower prices. The intended use of the internet is not only providing information, but only to the development of two-way communication where the audience can interact back immediately. From the development of a website called Web 1.0, which will provide information on a one-way communication that senders customizes the content themselves and receivers can receive for information only without reaction. The next era, it has evolved into Web 2.0, even the senders will determine the content of the information is preliminary. The audience was also involved in creating content and react to any perceived. The development of Web 2.0 and will evolved into a Web 3.0 and 4.0, trend of " Social Network" application, which allows users to engage social in learning community. (Thammachart. 2010).

Social networking means the way of creating a network for society or creating online community via the Web. The two forms of social network show as Internal Social Network (ISN) and External Social Network (ESN). ISN is restricted to a closed group of individuals who are in organization or permission users whereas ESN open to anyone to join and is also a large common network such as Hi5, Multiply and Facebook which has been widely popular now (Mekajai. 2000)

Facebook focuses as the social networking and website which allows users to communicate and participate in event or multiple events with others. It works for web service in users activities; post, chat, play. The post can be scrap, pictures, video clips. Besides, user can writing articles or blogs, chat conversation immediately. The gaming group can do so through the application added which has been developed increasly. Social network has been a popular one in the world. Statistics for the number of Facebook since the beginning the year in 2011, facebook members register for more than one million people a week and now it is up to 50 million facebook members.Facebook has its advantages as well as to apply in both the networking for human society and education has sparked widespread. (Facebook is. 2013)

The aim of the ASEAN community. The education agency recognizes driven to such changes has been prepared in English for English language learners under the Charter Article 34 states " the working language of ASEAN shall be English " that English is the language used in the ASEAN community. In order to comply with changes in society and the ASEAN community in Thailand, Information Sciences Department recognizes the need to develop the students are accustomed to using English. The channels of technology such as social networking relate to the behavior of students who have received the information and communication via technology especially FACEBOOK. For this reason, the researcher develop community learning for Information Sciences undergraduate students to promote English language skills for ready to enter the workforce, building network in information science education, and following in information science glossary.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methodology presented in two phases; the synthesing of learning community as first phase as content analysis method. The implementing and evaluating of satisfactory among 30 information students as second phase, the questionnaire and descriptive statistic were used.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The methodology presented in two phases; the synthesing of learning community as first phase, implementing and evaluating of satisfactory among information students as final phase.

Part 1: Synthesing of learning community

1.1 Definition Learning Community

There are various definitions of learning community as follow.

Galbraith (1995) defines that learning community is the group of people who have similar interest. The community looks systematic and sustainable without a place to meet each other whereas using the network to communicate and socialize.

Brooks (1997) defines that learning community is the place where people join for doing activities together, such as sharing idea, belief, and interesting topics with communicate through online community.

Tu and Corry (2002) defines that learning community is the place where people can learn together as group. They can do the various activities that relating with how to solve the problem and develop together through online environment. Then, the activities will improve new knowledger and skills of workers.

Kowch and Schwier (1997) defines that learning communities is the cooperation of people who have the similar objective and thinking. The group of people will create the technology as meeting place without setting in other place. Then, people can join together whereas staying in different places.

Augar, Raitman, and Zhou (2004) defines that learning community is the group of learner who interact in online environment for improving comprehen in the same topics. The learner can construct knowledge by interaction among peer, teacher, and learning resources. The learners feel being the owner of community because of the sharing of learning goal and the period of participation.

Kilpatrick, Barrett and Jones (2003) define that learning community is the unit of society that building by people who have the sharing goal. They join the activities together and repect other attitudes. The output begins living and active for working together. The community will increase the workerscompetence and construc new knowledge.

Finally the learning community means the group of learners who interest in similar topic through online environment. The learners can construct knowledge and skills while interact in problem based activities and sharing idea with members and learning resources.

Table 1 : Defintion of Learning Community

Definition of Learning Community

Galbraith (1995)

Brooks (1997)

Tu and Corry (2002)

Kowch and Schwier (1997)

Augar, Raitman, and Zhou

Kilpatrick, Barrett and Jones (2003)

Member

Activities

Technology

1.2 Importance of Learning Community

Schwier (2002) presented learing community were important as many reasons.

1) Learning community is a good model for community members to reinforce the learning.

2) Learning community influences enthusiasm for learning.

3) Learning community empowers the motivation to learn of learner.

4) Learning community creates the knowledge sharing enviroment.

5) Learning community supports the best solutions by sharing idea.

1.3 Components of Learning Community

There are various components of learning community contexts for example, community context, activities context, and technology context.

Table 2 : components of Learning Community

Component

Selznick (1996)

Schwier (2002)

Office of Learning Technology (1998)

Palloff and Rena (2005)

Soren (2006)

Augar, Raitman, and Zhou (2004)

Community

c

History

Identity

Sharing Goal

Place

Network

People

Learning Activities

Mutuality /Share

Plurality /Vote

Antonomy/Freedom

Participation /Interaction

Adaptation/Integration

Learning Organization

feedback

Guidelines

Technology

Synchronous Technology : conference, chat

Asynchronous Technology :e-mail ,webboard, blog

1.4 Process of Learning Community

There are three steps of learning community process. There are preparation phrase, activities phase, and evaluate phase as teble 3.

Table 3 : Process of Learning Community

Process

Jones (2000)

Mason and Hart (2000)

Schwier (2002)

Lally and Barrett (1999)

Boettcher, Duggan and White (1999)

Preparation

Number of Member :

6-12 , less than 30 people

Role of Member :

Facilitator, Participant

Goal

Activities

Knowledge sharing

Interaction via technology

Evaluation

Usage rate

User feedback

Participant rate

Part 2: Implementing and evaluating of satisfactory among information students

2.1 Preparation phase

The researcher creates the learning community in Facebook and named as IS_ENG. The goal of the communigy focus on enlish competence especially of information science words. Then, the researcher invites member as information science students to join in online community.

Figure 1 : Preparation phase

2.2 Activities phase

Since the member or participants join in the group language learning community in Facebook and named as IS_ENG, lecturer or facilitator introduce the information science word for them. There are 12 members, male 3 people and female are 3 people). Later, Students can practice the information science words that presents in image format. The information science words related with information task and students can find in information center, for example, library, circulation, medical/science library, fiction, children zone, research help, loan desk, IT help desk, mobile library. From this phase, students can share their knowledge and discussion with other members.

Figure 2 : Activities phase

2.3 Evaluate phase

From the language learning community (LLC) for practice english language via Facebook, Information science students enjoy practice enlish language with image becuase image make them comprehen and feel easy and familiar to use of second language. LLC motivate the students of learning However, some students suggest that the picture should be attractive and cute. The satisfactory of language learning community found satisfactory in 4 areas, design, interaction, activities, technology. Activities (x =4.62) and technology (x =4.52) were satisfied mostly in excellent. Beside, interaction (x =4.27) and design (x =4.27) were satisfied in good. Then, the LLC should concentrate about design for image attraction and interaction that only 3 people (25 %) often participation.

Table 4 The satisfactory of language learning community

The satisfactory (N = 12)

x

S.D

Mean

Design

3.85

1.04

Good

Interaction

4.27

0.83

Good

Activities

4.62

0.60

Excellent

Technology

4.52

0.78

Excellent

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The research was supported by faculty of informatics, Mahasarakham University, Thailand.

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