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Breaching Learners’ Social Distancing through Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

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  • Muhammad Zaheer Asghar

    (Department of Education, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
    School of Doctorate Education & ICT (E-Learning), Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Ayesha Iqbal

    (Department of Engineering, Bedford College, Bedford MK42 9AH, UK)

  • Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen

    (Department of Education, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Elena Barbera

    (Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, 08018 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Higher education has been shifted toward blended learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in social media usage intensity and reduced face-to-face interaction due to the COVID-19 pandemic urged instructional communication researchers to revisit the dynamics of learners’ group development in terms of their socialization and academic performance during the COVID-19 crisis. This research aimed to determine the mediating role of social media sociability between face-to-face socialization and academic performance of higher education students in blended learning environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also the aim of the study to determine the moderating effect of social media usage intensity on social media sociability. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with the students ( n = 340) enrolled in science teacher education departments of universities in Pakistan. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for multivariate analysis. Results revealed that face-to-face socialization gave an essential start to develop a learning group. However, when face-to-face socialization was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was mediated by social media usage in blended learning environments to increase their socialization and academic performance during the crisis. The findings of the study are useful for higher education institutions to adopt social media strategies for students’ socialization during the crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Ayesha Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Elena Barbera, 2021. "Breaching Learners’ Social Distancing through Social Media during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11012-:d:660477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Cheong-Iao Pang & Wenjing Jiang & Guanwen Pu & Kin-Sun Chan & Ying Lau, 2022. "Social Media Engagement in Two Governmental Schemes during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Macao," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-12, July.
    2. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Javed Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Elena Barbera & Fatih Mutlu Ozbilen & Yasira Waqar, 2023. "Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Modeling: Applying Vitae Researchers’ Development Framework through the Lens of Web 2.0 Technologies for Vocational-Health Education Researchers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Santiago Batista-Toledo & Diana Gavilan, 2023. "Student Experience, Satisfaction and Commitment in Blended Learning: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, February.
    4. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Seema Arif & Elena Barbera & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen & Ercan Kocayoruk, 2021. "Support through Social Media and Online Class Participation to Enhance Psychological Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-19, November.
    5. Muhammad Zaheer Asghar & Seema Arif & Javed Iqbal & Pirita Seitamaa-Hakkarainen, 2022. "Social Media Tools for the Development of Pre-Service Health Sciences Researchers during COVID-19 in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-22, January.

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