Enhancing formal e-learning with edutainment on social networks

Abstract

This paper reports on the investigation of the possibilities of enhancing the formal e-learning process by harnessing the potential of informal game-based learning on social networks. The goal of the research is to improve the outcomes of the formal learning process through the design and implementation of an educational game on a social network and its integration with a learning management system (LMS) of an educational institution. As a proof of concept, a Facebook educational game that enables students to learn and test their knowledge was developed. Furthermore, the game was integrated with the Moodle LMS and the evaluation was performed within the e-learning system at the Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Belgrade. The results show that the application of social network edutainment in an e-learning ecosystem has a positive impact on both the students' results and their satisfaction with the learning process as a whole.