Analyzing the Functions of Mobile Facebook Using and Supplemental LMS for Courses in Higher Education

[[abstract]]Although many studies have investigated the effects of adopting Facebook as an additional learning management system (LMS), its functions and benefits differing from the LMS have hardly been systematically analyzed. Besides, due to the increasing popularity of mobile devices among young generation, obviously, university students are likely using their smart phones to access both Facebook mobile App and campus-wide LMS. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to determine the students’ opinions on mobile Facebook course groups and a mobile LMS course group through the survey. The other purpose is to evaluate the benefits of each function of mobile FB course group that can strengthen the weaknesses of the LMS. In addition, t-test and correlation analysis were used to determine the differences and relationships among the selected variables. The findings may provide teachers a clear notion that the functions and advantages contributed by a mobile FB course group can be implemented as a supplemental learning system. The result will also provide the university administrators more detailed information for improving the current LMS functions or developing a new LMS App.[[notice]]補正完