PERCEPTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA TOWARDS USING SOCIAL MEDIA COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN ENHANCING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of undergraduate students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, towards the use of social media for collaborative learning and its impact on academic performance. The research was guided by the Community of Practice (CoP) theory. Using a survey research design, data were collected from 379 undergraduate students across six faculties selected through multi-stage sampling. A structured questionnaire served as the primary instrument for data collection, and results were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed among others that, most respondents perceive social media as a useful tool for academic collaboration and learning enhancement. The study concluded that social media, when effectively utilised, serves as a powerful medium for collaborative learning and academic improvement. It recommended among others that, students should be encouraged to join or create academic-focused online communities where they can interact with peers, share knowledge, and access credible academic resources.