Using Social Media as a Learning Management System in Developing Countries

This project investigates how social media can contribute to development by using it as a Learning Management System in developing countries. The project compares secondary schools in Swedish and Pakistan in the way they use social media. Using the Capability Approach of Amartya Sen the project investigates the affects of use of social media as a Learning Management System on student teacher interaction and their learning/teaching experience in terms of increasing capabilities for individuals. The project is situated within the area of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D). One hypothesis underlying research in this field is that as the major strength of social media is contributing to student-centered, constructive and informal learning, use of social media in formal educational settings can contribute to improve the education system in the developing world where the teaching methods and educational setups are often very fixed and rigid.