Examination of student opinions on the usage of Twitter microblog as a distance learning environment

Today, with the spread of internet networks, users who have become members of the digital world in virtue of the internet as the basic communication network that provides data and information exchange through computers and other technology-based smart devices, can perform all processes from banking to shopping or from education to health monitoring within a data network. Distance learning environments, which ensure the most accurate participation of the tools and channels that emerged in line with the advancing technology, found the opportunity to expand with new application areas with the widespread usage of social media channels. One of these areas is Twitter microblogging. Among social media channels, Twitter, which is the most frequently used social media channel by learners to obtain information, is a microblogging channel where users follow accounts relative to the areas they are interested in or want to be informed about, and at the same time share their views on any topic they wish. In the research, it is aimed to determine to what extent Twitter, which is a social media channel, contributes to the educational processes. In this context, Twitter is important in terms of being able to be used as a distance education environment in the future. In this research, which is a qualitative case study, the usability of the Twitter microblog as a distance education environment was investigated and the data were carried out with the participation of eight undergraduate students of Anadolu University Faculty of Education Basic Education Department Classroom Teaching Program, who took ARY 214 Research Methods in Education course via Zoom platform. Research themes emerged in line with these focus group discussions. The results obtained in the context of these themes are interpreted and discussed. According to some findings obtained as a result of the research, while it was found positive that Twitter offers daily and active usage, its infrastructure services are strong, and that it provides learner-learner interaction by increasing peer interest, it was determined that students' lack of access to the internet was a problem and suggestions developed within the scope of similar findings were presented. Keywords: Twitter, Distance Learning, Social Media, Microblogging, Case Study