Peer Interaction in Social Media for Improvement of EAP and Problem Solving Skills

摘要

The main aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of peer-interaction/intervention within the framework of group dynamics on line in the improvement of the subjects' EAP and their problem solving skills in undergraduate courses. A social media tool named 'Learning Feedback System (LFS)' was used to offer the course through a blended approach. The students were given a task set on computer programming and asked to support each other for solving problems related to their course topic with no teacher intervention. The frequency of authentic language, academic words and total number of words used in the first and second postings of 79 students was analyzed. The results revealed that the majority of the students participated actively in the task, and the interactions helped solve each others' problems and improve their content knowledge. A sample of 10 students was interviewed for their experience of getting involved in the peer group activities for problem solving, improvement of content knowledge and EAP. The students' perceptions related to the benefits of peer interaction in the social media environment were highly positive.