APPLICATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSE BY STUDENTS OF AUCHI POLYTECHNIC EDO STATE
Keywords:
Academic, Facebook, Library, Polytechnic, Social media, WhatsApp.Abstract
This study investigated the application of social media tools for academic purposes by students of Auchi polytechnic.
Three research objectives and research questions were raised to guide this study. The study employed a descriptive
survey method and a questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The population of the study consisted
of four thousand two hundred and seventeen (4217) students that have registered with the polytechnic library during
the period of the study for the 2019/2020 academic session. The population of this study is large and a representative
sample of hundred and fifteen (115) students were found in the library within the period of the study using availability
sampling techniques. It was revealed from the study that a majority of the students used WhatsApp and Facebook very
frequently. The study reported that lack of complete automation, lack of functioning e-library, epileptic power supply,
poor bandwidth/internet connectivity and lack of basic IT facilities are the challenges facing the use of social media
by the students of Auchi Polytechnic. The study recommended that the Auchi Polytechnic management and the library
administration should do the needful by ensuring that the e-library section is functioning optimally with internet
connectivity and improved and regular subscription to facilitate the smooth application of social media tools for
academic purposes by the students.
