The effectiveness of social network-based blended learning in comparison with face-to-face education and social network-based education on student self-efficacy and academic achievement

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of blended learning based on virtual social networks with a social constructivist approach on students' academic self-efficacy and academic achievement. The statistical population included students of Farhangian University in 2019-2020, 75 of whom were selected by available sampling method from Shahid Hasheminejad Campus in Mashhad and were randomly divided into three groups of 25 people. The research method was quasi-experimental and required information were collected by academic achievement test and owen and Faraman's academic self-efficacy questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS24 software. The results investigated that students of blended learning had higher academic achievement compared to the other two groups. Also, there is no significant difference between the academic self-efficacy of students with blended learning and face-to-face education, and students participating in blended learning had higher academic self-efficacy than students with social networks-based education. Accordingly, the use of blended learning based on social networks is suggested as a suitable educational method in university education.

Keywords

• blended learning
• social constructivism
• virtual social network
• academic self-efficacy