Online Social Network as a Tool for Facilitating e-Learning in Tanzania

Abstract

The main delivery system in Tanzanian education has been face-to-face approach relying on printed educational materials. High cost of books and insufficient teaching materials are still the major challenges. Recently, Online Social Networks (OSN) have gained popularity across the world and they are used for sharing information, news, chatting, messaging, and keeping in touch with friends. Studies have shown that OSNs can be used as tools for facilitating learning, supplementing face-to-face approach. Currently, there is an increase in the number of local OSN sites and subscribers in Tanzania. This paper examines to what extent are local OSNs in Tanzania exploited as e-learning platforms.  Moreover, it addresses the student’s perceived challenges and discusses the opportunities of using local OSNs towards fostering students' academic development.