The relationship between learners' use of facebook as a learning environment and levels of individual innovativeness

The main goal of this study is to examine the relationship between learners' use of Facebook as a learning environment and levels of individual innovativeness. In the study, the findings related to learners' educational usage of Facebook were discussed in terms of their demografic information, internet and Facebook usage habits and levels of individual innovativeness. In the study, it is aim to reveal the correlations among the variants such as learners' levels of individual innovativeness, internet and Facebook usage habits and their educational Facebook usage. Learners' individual innovativeness level was explained by change resistance, opinion leadership, opennes to experience, risk taking and learners' educational Facebook usage was clarified by communication, collaboration and resource sharing. Correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research models was used in the study. The sample of the study was composed of Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University 409 freshman year students. The data was collected with Facebook educational usage scale developed by Mazman (2009) and indiviual innovativeness scale developed by Hurt, Joseph and Cook (1977) and adapted by Kılıçer and Odabaşı (2010). SPSS statistics was used for the statistical analysis of the data. As a result of the study, it is found out that the level of individual innovativeness of the students is on average level. As another result of the study, according to individual innovativeness score the students composing the sample of the study are in the early majority category. Students' educational Facebook usage level is at good level. Correlation analysis showed that there is a positive relationship between individual innovativeness level and educational Facebook usage and its factors such as communication, collaboration, resource sharing and factors of Facebook educational usage scale. It was concluded that individual innovation levels of students affect eduaction Facebook usage of the students. Keywords: Social networking, Facebook, Educational use of Facebook, Individual Innovativeness.