The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students

García, Ana Cristina; Gil-Mediavilla, Manuel; Álvarez, Ildefonso; Casares, María de los Ángeles

doi:10.3390/su12239941

Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students

by

Ana Cristina García

,

Manuel Gil-Mediavilla

^*

,

Ildefonso Álvarez

and

María de los Ángeles Casares

Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales, Universidad Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Sustainability 2020, 12(23), 9941; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239941

Submission received: 5 November 2020 / Revised: 24 November 2020 / Accepted: 25 November 2020 / Published: 27 November 2020

(This article belongs to the Special Issue ICT and Sustainable Education)

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Abstract

New uses for social networks are emerging in educational fields offering endless materials for the teaching–learning process. Skills development therefore leads to an education focused on sustainable development. Proper use of social media is especially important to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 of the 2030 Agenda, which proclaims inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all—a trend that implies large data volumes that can be manipulated and adapted to the needs of each student, thus opening up new perspectives. This study aims to identify the differences between the use of social networks among students classed into two generations, X and Y. With that aim in mind, the results of a survey administered to 338 university students engaged in online studies showed significant differences, mainly in relation to social issues. Both generations nevertheless agreed on the benefits and uses of social networks within the academic field. The conclusions reaffirm the use of these resources for improving teaching and learning processes within online environments.

Keywords: digital technology; e-learning; social network; innovative pedagogical practices; higher education; generation gap; educational organization; socio-education

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MDPI and ACS Style

García, A.C.; Gil-Mediavilla, M.; Álvarez, I.; Casares, M.d.l.Á. The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students. Sustainability 2020, 12, 9941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239941

AMA Style

García AC, Gil-Mediavilla M, Álvarez I, Casares MdlÁ. The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students. Sustainability. 2020; 12(23):9941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239941

Chicago/Turabian Style

García, Ana Cristina, Manuel Gil-Mediavilla, Ildefonso Álvarez, and María de los Ángeles Casares. 2020. "The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students" Sustainability 12, no. 23: 9941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239941

APA Style

García, A. C., Gil-Mediavilla, M., Álvarez, I., & Casares, M. d. l. Á. (2020). The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students. Sustainability, 12(23), 9941. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239941

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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The Influence of Social Networks within Educational and Social Fields: A Comparative Study between Two Generations of Online Students

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