social networking in teaching public administration

SOCIAL NETWORKING IN TEACHING PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Baiyun Chen, University of Central FloridaThomas Bryer, University of Central Florida

Social Networking & Public Administration

Research Questions

Do Public Administration (PA) faculty use social networking services (SNSs)?

How do they use SNSs for teaching?

What implications on learning outcomes?

What concerns?

Research Methods

Survey

Interview

Content Analysis

Survey Sample

N=42

N=44

Do PA Faculty Use SNSs?

Question One:

N=56

N=39

How Do They Use SNSs for Teaching?

Question Two:

N=38

Types of Other Uses

Student Interaction

Programs Marketing & Student Recruitment

Alumni Connection

Job Visibility

Office Hours

N=41

N=41

N=40

N=37

What Activities Do You Use with SNSs?

Field Trips

Alumni Connections

Group Projects

Writing Projects (Blog/Wiki)

Course/Program/Conference Marketing

Student Association Networks

Part of Course Contents

Job Seeking

Student Interactions

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

12222

333

8

N=23

76.9% (20)

N=26

What Implications on Learning Outcomes?

Question Three:

Improve Learning Outcomes

Speak student language

Multiple ways of learning

Enhance group work

Enhance public awareness

Increased Engagement

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

3

5

Not Improve Learning Outcomes

No benefit beyond existing LMS

Harms professional skills

Not sure about strategies

Lack of instructor control

Too much noise

Not perceived as learning tools

Professional students too busy

No reason given

Not suited for deep discussion or complex issues

Security and privacy concern

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

11111111

23

Not Sure About Learning Outcomes

Depend on the class

Not enough experience

Promise but unknown

No reason given

Not sure about strategies

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

1

1

2

2

2

What concerns?Question Four:

Other Concerns

Easy content posting

Misunderstandings

Not sure about strategies

Improper writing style

0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5

1

1

1

2

3

3

3

4

http://tinyurl.com/sloansns

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