The role of social media for collaborative learning to improve academic performance of students and researchers in Malaysian higher education

• Main Authors: Al-Rahmi, Waleed Mugahed, Othman, Mohd. Shahizan, Mi Yusuf, Lizawati
• Format: Article
• Published: Athabasca University 2015
• Subjects: T58.5-58.64 Information technology
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/58995/; http://dx.doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s2p625

Social media is widely considered to improve collaborative learning among students and researchers. However, there is a surprising lack of empirical research in Malaysian higher education to improve performance of students and researchers through the effective use of social media that facilitates desirable outcomes. Thus, this study offers a review of the empirical literature, and its distinctiveness stems from the focus on collaborative learning and engagement to understand the interactive factors relevant that affect academic performance. This study also explores factors that contribute to the enhancement of collaborative learning and engagement through social media. It is unique in that it highlights that the effective use of social media for collaborative learning, engagement, and intention to use social media" - a phenomenon that relies on the theory of social constructivist learning. The findings showed that collaborative learning, engagement, and intention to use social media positively and significantly relate to the interactivity of research group members with peers and research students with supervisors to improve their academic performance in Malaysian higher education.