Social media-enhanced learning in a small island developing states (SIDS) setting

Abstract

The rapid and ongoing advances in technology are leading to significant transformations in the world, making it even more connected. The educational sector is also responding by developing new models to face and adopt these changes. Learners are exposed to new media technologies which have set the scene for more collaboration, participation and engagement in the learning environment. As research points towards an eagerness for the acceptance of social media in developing countries, there is a need to further explore its implication for education. In an era of globalization which creates more association among universities from developed nations and small island developing states (SIDS), the significance of investigating learners’ social media engagement level is even greater. This article documents the development of a Learner Social Media Engagement Level model for higher education institutions in SIDS based on a research in Mauritius. The analysis results in the identification of five main levels of participation, namely Curator, Consumer, Communicator, Collaborator and Producer. The article concludes with the social profile of each category of learner and highlights how the small state experience could be significant for a wider international community.