Social Networks to Rescue COVID-19 Education: Learners' Awareness of Social Networks in Aiding Education

Abstract

Governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This has culminated in the largest school disruption in recent history. This study explored learners’ awareness of using smart educational systems (social networks) to support remote learning (e-learning). The study examined three constructs: Motivation, Active role, and Interaction, based on the theory of Connectivism. These constructs contributed to the development of a survey used to gather perspectives on social networks in education from a group of Business Studies learners in a South African high school. Data was collected from a sample of Business Studies learners (n=133) just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show there was an awareness of the use of social networks in education among learners. Therefore, social networks had the potential to support distance education during the pandemic.