Adoption of Web 2.0 tools in higher education in India: a study
| Date | 02 July 2018 |
| Pages | 297-315 |
| Published date | 02 July 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-10-2017-0084 |
| Author | Malkeet Singh |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Information behaviour & retrieval,Information in society,Information literacy,Library & information services |
Adoption of Web 2.0 tools in
higher education in India: a study
Malkeet Singh
Guru Nanak Prem Karamsar College, Kapurthala, India
Abstract
Purpose –The study aims to determinethe awareness and extent of use of Web 2.0 technologies in Indian
Institutesof Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management(IIMs).
Design/methodology/approach –The study is a questionnaire-based survey on the usage of Web 2.0
technologies amongstudents, research scholars and library and information science professionalsof the IITs
and IIMs. The research data of the respondents were acquired by visiting their respective institutes. The
sample of the study reveals that 1,400 questionnaires were distributed among the users of select IITs and
IIMs; 1,100 questionnaireswere received, showing a response rate of 78.57 per cent.
Findings –The findings of the study imply that young respondents are genuinely interested in the
activities of Web 2.0. Also,respondents were found to be aware and making use of such applicationsin their
research and academic works. Social networking sites have received prominent responses among all
categories of respondents. Web 2.0 technologies are mostly used for exploring useful and up-to-date
information, academic and research and socializing. The time consumption and fear of misusing personal
informationare major obstacles in accessing ofWeb 2.0.
Research limitations/implications –This study encompasses thepopulation of select IITs and IIMs.
It also signifiesthe potential of Web 2.0 in the academia.
Practical implications –This study profoundly demonstrates the impact of Web 2.0 technologies on
higher education in India. This study may establish as a valuable guide for researchers in understanding
Web 2.0 in itsproper perspective.
Originality/value –The research provides reliableand factual data, which are worth and justifiable and
highlightthe considerable observations on the topic, which will be very useful for researchersin this area.
Keywords User studies, Web 2.0, Social media, Academic libraries, Information technology,
Social networks, Wikipedia, Bibliographies, Blog, Worldwide Web, Social networking sites
Paper type Research paper
1. Web 2.0 spectrum
Web 2.0 has emerged as a tremendous avenue for interactive communication and
information sharing and as a user-centric and online collaborative platform for producing
and distribution of Web contents. It has followed the principle of two-way communication
(also known as read-write Web), which encourages more internet users to expect to interact
online rather than simply be the recipient in a one-way flow of information (Saulles, 2012).
Democratization, amateurization and socialization are some of the potential features that
have contributed toward establishing a dynamic interface of the Web. The core of all Web
2.0 services compriseopen, published and structured interfaces of data, on the backof which
the value is created (Marques, 2007). This media has altered the technological milieu into
social and open spaces. It has become socially connected Web, in which people can
contribute as much as they can consume (Anderson, 2007). It permits the users as active
The author is grateful to Dr K.P. Singh, for giving his valuable suggestions for the completion of
this work.
Adoption of
Web 2.0 tools
297
Received27 October 2017
Revised23 December 2017
Accepted13 February 2018
GlobalKnowledge, Memory and
Communication
Vol.67 No. 4/5, 2018
pp. 297-315
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2514-9342
DOI 10.1108/GKMC-10-2017-0084
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9342.htm
producers of knowledge rather than passive information consumers (Walton, 2010). It also
produced new types of information that are being used by marketers to comprehend
customer needs and desires in a better way (Saulles, 2012). Web 2.0 is well-suited to an
active and meaningful learning and collaborative knowledge building process (Virkus,
2008).The prevalent concept of Web 2.0 has spread over the decade, which has become a
mainstream education,teaching and learning platform.
In essence, Web 2.0 has become worthwhile in exploring to create individual webpages
(blog), aggregate websites’content at a single place (really simple syndication [RSS] and
News Feeds), create a repository, collaboration and a discussion forum (wikis), develop
network with friends, colleagues and professionals (social networking sites [SNSs]), create
online bookmarks, tag items (social bookmarking) and integrate multiple sources and
services (Mashups). This term has also been used in literature in various interchangeable
forms such as social media, social softwareand read-write Web.
2. Research objectives
The study has set the following specific objectives:
To assess the awareness and extent of use of Web 2.0 Technologies in Indian
Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in India.
To determine the users’accomplishment through Web 2.0 Technologies.
To identify the significant components and utilities on Web 2.0 Technologies.
To ascertain Web 2.0 proficiency in academic learning, communication, and discussion.
To explore Impediments of accessing Web 2.0 Technologies.
To discover the possible factors that would influence successful implementation of
Web 2.0.
3. Scope and methodology
The study encompasses the populationfrom select IITs and IIMs for seeking a survey of the
respondents. The sample of the study consisted of undergraduates, postgraduates and
research scholars from various faculties of engineering, science and technology and
management. The study also includes library and information science (LIS) professionals,
who use these tools for the benefit of their users and themselves. A survey approach has
been adopted, and a structured questionnaire was designed to collect the quantitative data
from the identified population.The questionnaire contains multiple choicequestions on each
aspect of the research. It was personally distributed among the respondents by the
researchers, visiting severaltimes. The collected data through the questionnaires have been
thoroughly organized, scrutinized and tabulated using MS Excel 2010 and SPSS. The
analysis of data presented here was based on the information provided by the respondents
of the questionnaires administered by the researcher. The sample of the study reveals that
1,400 questionnaires were distributed among the users of selected IITs and IIMs, of which
1,100 questionnaires were received, obtaining a response rate of 78.57 per cent. The
following institutionsand their departments have been covered:
IIT Bombay (IITB)
IIT Delhi (IITD)
IIT Kharagpur (IITKGP)
IIT Roorkee (IITR)
GKMC
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