Role of Social Media in delivering Formal Education during COVID -19 in Developing Countries

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted high schools to switch on-line from one side to the other. However, many public entities, particularly in developed countries, have often no access for promoting contact with students and/or faculty members to structured online learning management systems (LMS). This study investigates how often social networks are used to promote traditional, i.e. just official resources, institutional contact among faculty members and students. In order to do this, online surveys of both faculty members and students were carried out, complemented by in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that the personal use of social media by students has enabled their successful use to facilitate formal learning. However, substantial gaps in social media use for student encouragement and for the creation of an online group were observed between faculty members and students. Students used social media to create and encourage each other digitally, while teachers concentrated solely on teaching and learning. The findings confirm that a modern period of social learning, social presence and an alternative medium to facilitate online learning will be encouraged by proper use of social media. Study consequences are explored for policymakers in higher education, especially in developed countries, and academics.