Relationship Between Learning Style and the Use of Social Media as a Learning Management System for Online Learners

Abstract

Social media such as Facebook have emerged and are becoming popular in academe as a learning management system (LMS). The capabilities of Facebook groups to augment online learning show that Facebook can become an effective LMS. However, students’ acceptance of Facebook as a learning environment may vary depending on their individual learning styles. This study aimed to describe how the students’ acceptance of Facebook groups as an LMS is linked to their learning styles. To determine the students’ learning styles, a survey using Felder’s Index of Learning Styles (ILS) was administered. Online students’ attitude, intent to use, perceptions of the usefulness, and ease of using a Facebook group as an LMS were observed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The differences in students’ acceptance of a Facebook group according to learning styles were then determined. The results suggest that students found a Facebook group easy to use and a good idea for an LMS. Verbal learners perceived Facebook groups as easy to use and useful for learning, while active and intuitive learners intended to continue to use a Facebook group for learning. The findings contribute to the growing literature on the use of Facebook groups as an LMS in the Asian setting.