SOCIAL MEDIA AS A TEACHING AND LEARNING TOOL: A PERCEPTION COMPARISON BETWEEN ARTS AND SCIENCE FACULTY

Social media is fast becoming the dominant online communications platform dedicated to community-based interaction, discussion, collaboration and content-sharing for a multitude of domains. Some identify it as a new media for enhancing the teaching and learning environment. This study investigates differences and similarities on King Abdulaziz University (KAU) Arts and Science instructors' perceptions of social media as a teaching and learning tool. The sample size was 507 instructors of different ages and genders representing Arts and Science colleges. The results indicate that a subset of KAU instructors at both college groups are using social media tools in their teaching and have the desire to integrate social media as a tool in their teaching at university. Survey results also highlight affinities for various social media tools and purposes of use between the two groups, Arts and Science. The findings include identification of college type-based dominant views pertaining to advantages and disadvantages of social media in teaching and learning. The findings can encourage academic planners and instructors to adopt and implement appropriate social media tools and adapt to preferred learning styles within the teaching and learning environment of each college type.