An investigation of uses and gratifications for using WEB 2.0 technologies in teaching and learning processes

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Iclal Can
Sevinc Gelmez-Burakgazi
Ilknur Celik

Abstract

Although the use of Web 2.0 in higher education has been a hot topic for the last decade, a lack of guidelines on how to use Web 2.0 tools has constrained their wider adoption. Therefore, understanding why and how educators use Web 2.0 is a necessary step towards promoting their effective use in teaching and learning. This study draws upon the uses and gratifications perspective to explore faculty members’ uses of Web 2.0 tools in instructional processes in an international higher education context. We gathered data from 15 faculty members via semi-structured interviews as part of a phenomenological study design applying maximum variation sampling. We analyzed the data using content analysis. The results indicated that the faculty members were selective in their use of Web 2.0 tools and utilized a variety of Web 2.0 tools to gratify their cognitive, affective, social integrative and personal integrative needs in relation to instructional processes.

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Author Biographies

Iclal Can, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus

Iclal Can holds a PhD in  Educational Sciences majoring in Curriculum and Instruction from Middle East Technical University. She is an Assistant Professor on the Guidance and Psychological Counseling Program at Middle East Technical University, Northern Cyprus Campus. Her research interests include teacher education, creativity and scholastic achievement, technology-enhanced educational practices, and curriculum development and evaluation.

Sevinc Gelmez-Burakgazi, Hacettepe University

Sevinc Gelmez Burakgazi received a PhD degree in Educational Sciences majoring in Curriculum and Instruction. She is currently an Assistant Professor on the Curriculum and Instruction Program at Hacettepe University, Turkey. Her research focuses on effective teaching and learning environments, science communication, science education, teacher education, ethics, and higher education.

Ilknur Celik, Middle East Technical University Northern Cyprus Campus

Ilknur Celik received her PhD in Computer Science from the University of Nottingham (UK), specializing in Web Science. She has particular expertise and interests in the fields of Adaptive Educational Hypermedia, Technology Enhanced Learning, Web-based Educational Systems, Semantic Web, Social Web, User Modelling, Personalisation, and Mining Social Media. She has been carrying out several collaborative research activities, contributing at both nationally and internationally (European FP7) funded projects.She has served in the program committees and chaired sessions in several international and national conferences and workshops.