Social Media as Non-Formal Interactive Platforms for Educational Engagement among Undergraduates in Niger Delta University, Nigeria
Jonathan E. Oghenekohwo, PhD; Olufunmilayo T. Iyunade, PhD

Abstract
This study investigated social media as non-formal interactive platforms for educational engagement among undergraduates in Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Nigeria. The study lay to rest the contention whether social media is merely gossip oriented interactive platforms or as non-formal interactive influencer of educational engagement and behavioural change among undergraduates in the learning process. Survey research design was adopted for the study. From a population of three thousand final year undergraduate students from twelve faculties, stratify proportionate random sampling technique was used to select fifty percent (50%), that is 1,500 students that participated in the study. A structured questionnaire captioned “Social Media Platforms and Educational Engagement Scale” (SMPEES), r=0.86 was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results established that more female (58.9%) than male (41.1%) participated in the study. Undergraduates from the social sciences accounted for the highest users of the social media (26%), followed by those in management sciences (20.5%) and education (16.5%). Awareness on social media was slightly above average (51.2%), subscription rate was low (44.5%) but utilization was high (54.7%). A significant association was established between three independent predictors (awareness, subscription and utilisation) and the constant variable. The study concluded that social media serve as non-formal education platforms that facilitated interactive learning and educational engagement among undergraduates. It was recommended that, social media should not only be used to promote knowledge society, but also, assist to prepare people of all ages for the all anticipated network society as the world moves gradually from knowledge economy.

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