II. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES
This exploratory study probed on popular OSNs to preassess their optimal or potential use, value, and implication
as a mode of communication for students to interface with
their teachers, lesson content and with a community of
learners. This article specifically interrogated: 1) What do
the informants use online social networks for? 2) How is
online social network constructed by key players in
instruction? 3) What are the tools and applications in online
social networks that can be used to facilitate off-campus
communication that are supportive to meet instructional
goals? The primary goal of this study was to assess the
efficacy and usability of OSNs over concerns of integrating
them in instruction.
To this end, the researcher: (1) analyzed the application
content of online social networks commonly used by the
informants; (2) descriptively reported on the informants’
shared-construction of online-social networks; and (3)
identified contexts in which online social networks may be
applied in instruction-related activities. This study embarked
with an assumption that emerging social networking sites are
potential communication platforms that teachers may tap
into for instructional purposes, and this requires pre-event
teacher reflection. Findings of this study may have practical
value to instructional designers, in making informed
decisions about using OSNs for instruction.