Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Virtual Communities of Practice for generations Z and Alpha: a systematic review of the main social networking sites used in formal education Cover

Virtual Communities of Practice for generations Z and Alpha: a systematic review of the main social networking sites used in formal education

Open Access
|Jun 2025

References

  1. Aggiano, F. (2023, January 9). Digital World. Social e società [Video]. RaiPlay. https://www.raiplay.it/video/2023/01/Digital-World---Social-e-societa-888d5c18-8b78-4e57-b900-3e1a90b558bc.html.
  2. Ajani, A.O. (2021). Teachers’ use of whatsapp platforms as online communities of practice for professional development. Journal of African Films, Diaspora Studies, Performance, Arts and Communication Studies (JAFDIS), 4(1), 103-129. https://doi.org/10.31920/2516-2713/2021/4n1a6.
  3. Alakurt, T., & Keser, H. (2014). Sanaluygulamatopluluğuüyelerininbilgipayl aşımıdavranışlarınınincelenmesi. İlköğretim Online, 13(4), 1331-1351.
  4. Alenezi, W., & Brinthaupt, T.M. (2022). The use of social media as a tool for learning: perspectives of students in the faculty of education at kuwait university. Contemporary Educational Technology, 14(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/11476.
  5. Allela, M.A., Ogange, B.O., Junaid, M.I., & Charles, P.B. (2020). Effectiveness of multimodal microlearning for in- service teacher training. Journal of Learning for Development, 7(3), 384-398. https://doi.org/10.56059/jl4d.v7i3.387.
  6. Al-Qaysi, N., Nordin, N.M., & Al-Emran, M. (2020). A systematic review of social media acceptance from the perspective of educational and information systems theories and models. South African Journal of Education, 57, 2085-2109.
  7. Armas-Arias, S., Alcántara Gutiérrez, M.E., & Martinez, M.R. (2023). Generation of productive experiences in the digital era 4.0. In P. Kommers, I. Arnedillo-Sánchez, & P. Isaías (Eds.), e-Society and Mobile Learning 2023 (pp. 301- 308).
  8. Aroldi, P. (2016). Connessioni quotidiane. Spazi di esperienza tra online e offline. Milano: Educatt.
  9. Artieri, B.F. (2021). Prefazione. In F. Pira, Le nuove generazioni digital-popolari e social-dipendenti (pp. 9-12). Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  10. Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  11. Bansal, T., & Joshi, D. (2014). A study of students experiences of WhatsApp Mobile Learning. Global Journal of Human-Social Science, 14(H4), 27-33. https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/1326.
  12. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
  13. Buchem, I., & Hamelmann, H. (2010). Microlearning: A strategy for ongoing professional development. eLearning Papers, 21, 1-15.
  14. Buckingham, D. (2003). Media education. Alfabetizzazione, apprendimento e cultura contemporanea (trad. italiana). Trento: Erickson.
  15. Cappello, G. (2020). Introduction. In D. Buckingham, Un manifesto per la media education (pp. 3-14). Firenze: Mondadori Università.
  16. Castiglione, A. (2023). Edu-social Algorithm: A methodological model for using smartphones and Instagram in Generation Alpha’s education through a community of virtual practices. In P. Kommers, I. Arnedillo-Sánchez, P. & Isaías (Eds.), e-Society and Mobile Learning 2023 (pp. 290-300).
  17. Castiglione, A., Coppola, G., Alessi Batù, G., & Palma, S. (2018). Affrontare il cyberbullismo in classe. Comprendere e riconoscere gli effetti collaterali dei social network. Psicologia di comunità, 2, 112-119.
  18. Chawinga, W.D. (2017). Taking social media to a university classroom: Teaching and learning using twitter and blogs. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-017-0041-6.
  19. Christensen, R., & Knezek, G. (2018). Reprint of readiness for integrating mobile learning in the classroom: Challenges, preferences and possibilities. Computers in Human Behavior, 78, 379-388.
  20. Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230153.
  21. Cranefield, J., & Yoong, P. (2009). Crossings: Embedding personal professional knowledge in a complex online community environment. Online Information Review, 33, 257-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/14684520910951203-.
  22. Creswell, J.W. (2009). Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. London: Sage Pubblication.
  23. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme. CASP qualitative checklist. https://casp-uk.net/images/checklist/documents/CASP-Qualitative-Studies-Checklist/CASP-Qualitative-Checklist-2018_fillable_form.pdf.
  24. Dabbagh, N., & Kitsantas, A. (2011). Personal learning environments, social media, and self-regulated learning: A natural formula for conneting formal and informal learning. Internet in Higher Education, 15, 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2011.06.002.
  25. Da Silva Viana, E.C., Maia, H.J.S., De Oliveira Tabosa, D.A., Da Silva, D.A., De Mendonca, F.L.L., & De Sousa Junior, R.T. (2023). Remote teaching during the Covid-19 Pandemic: Challenges and potentialities of using M-Learning in literacy classes in Brazil. In P. Kommers, I. Arnedillo-Sánchez, & P. Isaías (Eds.), e-Society and Mobile Learning 2023 (pp. 251-258).
  26. Dasoo, N. (2022). The Innovative use of social media for teaching and learning: A case study at the University of Johannesburg. In Proceedings of the 2022 International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research. https://doi.org/10.26803/MyRes.2022.03.
  27. Dennen, V.P., Choi, H., & Word, K. (2020). Social media, teenagers, and the school context: A scoping review of research in education and related felds, Education Tech Research Dev, 68, 1635-1658. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-020-09796-z.
  28. Dewi, N.M., & Tarwiyah, S. (2022). EFL Teachers experiences in a digital technology-based community of practice as a continuing professional development. In L.R. Octaberlina, & A.I. Muslimin (Eds.), The 9th ELITE International Conference 2021 (pp. 185-198).
  29. Di Mele, L. (2014). La ricerca nella Media Education. Supplemento a Desk. Cultura e ricerca nella comunicazione, 2, 2004.
  30. Dunwill, E. (2016). 4 changes that will shape the classroom of the future: Making education fully technological. https://elearningindustry.com/4-changes-will-shape-classroom-of-the-future-making-education-fully-technological.
  31. Durkee, D., Brant, S., Nevin, P., Odell, A., Williams, G., Melomey, D., & Lopes, A. (2009). Implementing e-learning and web 2.0 innovation – didactical scenarios and practical implications. Industry and Higher Education, 23(4), 293-300. https://doi.org/10.5367/000000009789346176.
  32. Edu-social Algorithm [@edu_social_algorithm]. (2022, October 14). Come creare un profilo Edu. Tutorial per studenti e insegnanti. Un velocissimo tutorial su come creare un profilo Edu [Attached images]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjsCtzVABeL/.
  33. Falcinelli, F. (2003). Un curriculo di Media Education nella scuola di base: indicazioni generali, Intermed, april, pp. 3-5.
  34. Felini, D. (2004). Pedagogia dei media. Questioni, percorsi e sviluppi. Brescia: La Scuola.
  35. Ferri, P. (2011). Nativi digitali. Milano: Mondadori Bruno.
  36. Gasparetti, M., & Pampaloni, S. (2020). Impossibile non comunicare. Regole per un efficace uso di Internet tra notizie e social network. Pisa: Astarte Edizioni.
  37. Ghani, N.A., Corrienna, A.T., & Maizatul, N.M.S. (2022). How relevant social media as educational tools: Systematic review, Journal of Positive School Psychology, 6(8), 2774-2795. https://journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/10281/6662.
  38. Giannatelli, R. (1998). Networking ed esperienze di Media education in Italia. Paper presented at the International Congress Multimedia e Educação em um Mundo Globalizado, San Paolo, 20-23 may 1998.
  39. Gonnet, J. (1997). Éducation et Médias. Paris: PUF.
  40. Graviz, A. (1998). Media education as a discipline. Paper presented at the International Congress Multimedia e Educação em um Mundo Globalizado, San Paolo, 20-23 may 1998.
  41. Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016a). Social media and education: Reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning, Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1): 6-30. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2015.1064954.
  42. Greenhow, C., Sonnevend, J., & Agur, C. (Eds.). (2016b). Education and social media. Toward a digital future. Cambridge: The MIT press.
  43. Griffin, M.M., & Zinskie, C.D. (Eds.). (2021). Social media. Influences on education. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
  44. Grollo, M., & Nardo, E. (2007). Educare con i media. Dalle competenze orizzontali alla consapevolezza. Proposte e progetti di educazione ai media. Bergamo: Junior.
  45. Gülbahar, Y. (2014). Current state of usage of social media for education: Case of Turkey. Journal of Social Media Studies, 1(1): 53-69. https://doi.org/10.15340/2147336611763.
  46. Hobbs, R. (2000). Media literacy. Mountain Lakes: Newsweek Education Program.
  47. Huang, J.J.S., Yang, S.J.H., Huang, Y.M., & Hsiao, I.Y.T. (2010). Social learning networks: Build mobile learning networks based on collaborative services, Educational Technology and Society, 13(3), 78-92.
  48. Hug, T. (2005). Microlearning: Emerging concepts, practices and technologies after e-learning. In Proceedings of Micro-learning Conference.
  49. Hussin, A.A. (2018). Education 4.0 made simple: Ideas for teaching, International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies, 6(3). 92-98. https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.6n.3p.92.
  50. Jaakonmäki, R., Müller, O., & Vom Brocke, J. (2017). The impact of content, context and creator on user engagement in social media marketing. In 50th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, pp. 1152-1160.
  51. Jaeger, G. (2020). #teachersoftiktok: How to effectively use TikTok in your classroom. https://spacesedu.com/teacher-softiktok-how-to-effectively-use-tiktok-in-your-classroom/.
  52. Jenkins, H (2009). Confronting the challenges of participatory culture: Media education for the 21st century. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
  53. Jerónimo, H., & Martin, A. (2021). Twitter as an online educational community in the Spanish literature classroom. Foreign Language Annals, 54, 505-524. https://doi.org/10.1111/flan.12522.
  54. Jita, L.C., & Mokhele, M.L. (2014). When teacher clusters work: Selected experiences of South African teachers with the cluster approach to professional development. South African Journal of Education, 34(2). https://doi.org/10.15700/201412071132.
  55. Jonassen, D.H., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., & Crismond, D. (2008). How does technology facilitate learning?. http://www.education.com/reference/article/how-doestechnology-facilitatelearning/?page=2.
  56. Junco, R., Elavsky, C., & Heiberger, G. (2013). Putting Twitter to the test: Assessing outcomes for student collaboration, engagement and success. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44, 273-287.
  57. Kozinets, R.V. (2010). Netnography: Doing ethnographic research online. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
  58. Kozinski, S. (2017). How Generation Z is shaping the change in education. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sievakozinsky/2017/07/24/how-generation-z-isshaping-the-change-in-education/#304059746520.
  59. Krasilnikov, A., & Smirnova, A. (2017). Online social adaptation of first-year students and their academic performance. Computer & Education, 113, 327-338. http.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.05.012.
  60. Lancini, M. (2021). L’età tradita. Oltre i luoghi comuni sugli adolescenti. Milano: RaffaelloCortina Editore.
  61. Lancini, M. (2020). Cosa serve ai nostri ragazzi. I nuovi adolescenti spiegati ai genitori, agli insegnanti, agli adulti. Torino: Utet.
  62. Lavanco, G. (2021). Venti Lemmi. Per una psicologia del fare. Palermo: Palermo University Press.
  63. Lavanco, G., & Castiglione, A. (2023). Edu-social Algorithm: educare con i social network a scuola. Un modello opera-tivo per il Mobile Learning, Pedagogia e Vita, 3/2022, 131-144.
  64. Lavanco, G., & Novara, C. (2012). Elementi di psicologia di comunità. Progettare, attuare e partecipare il cambiamento sociale. Milano: The McGraw-Hill Companies.
  65. Malecela, I.O. (2016). Usage of Whatsapp among postgraduate students of Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia, International Journal of Advanced Engineering Research and Science (IJAERS), 3(10), 126-137. https://doi.org/10.22161/ijaers/310.21.
  66. Marcia, M., & Garcia, I. (2016). Informal online communities and networks as a source of teacher professional development: A review, Teaching and Teacher Education, 55, 291-307. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2016.01.021.
  67. Marcus-Quinn, A. & Hourigan, T. (Eds.). (2021). Handbook for online learning contexts: Digital, mobile and open. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
  68. Maretti, M., & Fontanella, L. (2019). La ricerca sociale nello spazio digitale. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  69. Martin, A. (2006). DigEuLit – a european framework for digital literacy: A progress report. http://www.jelit.org/65/01/JeLit_Paper_31.pdf.
  70. McCartney, K. (2021). Mobile education. Personalised learning and assessment in remote education: A guide for educators and learners. Oxford: Peter Lang.
  71. McCrindle, M., & Fell, A. (2021). Generation Alpha. Sydney: Hachette Australia.
  72. McLoughlin, C., & Lee M.J.W. (2008). Mapping the digital terrain: New media and social software as catalysts for pedagogical change. In Hello! Where are you in the landscape of educational technology? Proceedings ascilite Melbourne 2008. http://www.ascilite.org/conferences/melbourne08/procs/mcloughlin.pdf.
  73. Miles, M.B., & Huberman, M.A. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: A sourcebook of new methods. Baverly Hills: SAGE.
  74. Ming, L., Tung, F., & Kuang, L. (2017). A study of the effects of digital learning on learning motivation and learning outcomes, Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(7), 3553-3564.
  75. Moher, D., Shamseer, L., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., Shekelle, P., & Stewart L.A.; PRISMA-P Group. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Syst Rev., 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1.
  76. Moodley, M. (2019). WhatsApp: Creating a virtual teacher community for supporting and monitoring after a professional development programme, S. Afr. J. Educ., 39, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v39n2a1323.
  77. Mutalib, M.A., Halim, N.D.A., & Al-Emran, M. (2018). A review on use of social media in teaching and learning. http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/61182/1/NoorDayanaAbd2015_AReviewonUseofSocialMediainTeaching.pdf.
  78. Newton, J.R., & Williams, M.C. (2021). Instagram as a special educator professional development tool: A guide to Teach-ergram, Journal of Special Education Technology, 37(3), 447-452.
  79. Nor, K.B.M., Razali, M.B.M., Talib, N.B., Ahmad, N.B., Sakarji, S.B.R., Saferdin, W.A.A., & Nor, A.B.M. (2019). Students’ problems in learning English as a second language among Mdab students at Uitm Malacca. International Journal of Humanities, Philosophy and Language, 2(7), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.35631/ijhpl.27001.
  80. Nowotny, H. (2021). In AI we trust: Power, illusion and control of predictive algorithms. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  81. O’Reilly, T., & Battelle, J. (2004, October 5-7). Opening welcome: The state of the Internet industry. Paper presented at the Web 2.0 Conference, San Francisco, CA. http://conferences.oreillynet.com/pub/w/32/presentations.html.
  82. Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2019). The rise of social media. https://ourworldindata.org/rise-of-social-media.
  83. Paniagua, A., & Istance, D. (2018). Teachers as designers of learning environments: The importance of innovative pedagogies. Educational Research and Innovation. Paris: OECD Publishing.
  84. Pegem, A., & Özüdoğru, Ş., (2014). Nitelaraştırmanıniletişimaraştırmaların Darolveönemiüzerinebirdeneme, Global Media Journal, 4(8), 260-275.
  85. Pellai, A., & Tamborini, B. (2021). Vietato ai minori di 14 anni: Sai davvero quando è il momento giusto per dare lo smartphone ai tuoi figli?. Novara: De Agostini.
  86. Pira, F. (2021). Le nuove generazioni digital-popolari e social-dipendenti. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  87. Prensky, M. (2009). H. Sapiens digital: From digital immigrants and digital natives to digital wisdom, Innovate: Journal of Online Education, 5(3). https://nsuworks.nova.edu/innovate/vol5/iss3/1.
  88. Radka, N.J., Jansone, A. (2022). Current perspectives in social media supported e-Learning, Baltic J. Modern Computing, 10(1), 71-86. https://doi.org/10.22364/bjmc.2022.10.1.05.
  89. Ranieri, M., Pieri, M. (2014). Mobile learning. Dimensioni teoriche, modelli didattici, scenari applicativi. Milano: Edizioni Unicopli.
  90. Rivoltella, P.C. (2020). Nuovi alfabeti. Educazione e culture nella società post-mediale. Brescia: Scholé.
  91. Rovai, A.P. (2001). Building classroom community at a distance: A case study, Educational Technology Research and Development, 49, 33-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02504946.
  92. Salmon, G. (2012). E-moderating: The key to online teaching and learning. New York: Routledge.
  93. Santoianni, F., Petrucco, C., Ciasullo, A., & Agostini, D. (Eds.). (2022). Teaching and Mobile Learning. Interactive educational design. Abingdon, Oxon: CRC Press.
  94. Selwyn, N. (2012). Making sense of young people, education and digital technology: The role of sociological theory. Oxford Review of Education, 38(1), 81-96.
  95. Soffel, J. (2016). What are the 21st century skills every student needs?. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/21st-century-skills-future-jobs-students.
  96. Susilo, A. (2014). Using Facebook and WhatsApp to leverage learner participation and transform pedagogy at the Open University of Indonesia, Jurnal Pendidikan Terbuka dan Jarak Jauh, 15(2), 63-80. http://ilp.ut.ac.id/index.php/JPTJJ/article/view/208/165.
  97. Tan, K.H., Rajendran, A., Muslim, N., Alias, J., & Yusof, N.A. (2022). The potential of TikTok’s key features as a pedagogical strategy for ESL classrooms, Sustainability, 14(24), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416876.
  98. Trentin, G. (Ed.) (2012). Education technology in Europe. Special issue of Educational Technology, 52(2).
  99. Uribe, S.N., & Vaughan, M. (2017). Facilitating student learning in distance education: A case study on the development and implementation of a multifaceted feedback system. Distance Education, 38(3), 288-301.
  100. Vaázquez Cano, E. (2012). Mobile learning with Twitter to improve linguistic competence at secondary schools, The New Educational Review, 29, 134-147.
  101. Van Den Beemt, A., Thurlings, M., & Willems, M. (2020). Towards an understanding of social media use in the classroom: A literature review, Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 29(1), 35-55. http://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2019.1695657.
  102. Vanwynsberghe, H., & Verdegem, P. (2013). Integrating social media in education. CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture, 15(3), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.7771/1481-4374.2247.
  103. Vedi Palermo. (2023, February 1). Edu-Social Algorithm, restituzione finale all’I.C.S. “Colozza-Bonfiglio” [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cxna1D9hYJg.
  104. Vinogradova, S., Melnik, G., & Pantserev, K. (2018). Transformation of media education in the digital age: To the issue of training specialists in the field of communications, Media Education, 1, 18-27.
  105. Wenger, E. (2011). Communities of practice: A brief introduction.
  106. Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/11736.
  107. Wenger, E., McDermott, R., & Snyder, W. (2002). Cultivating communities of practice: A guide to managing knowledge. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
  108. Wesley, P.M. (2013). Investigating the community of practice of world language educators. Journal of Teacher Education, 64(4), 305-318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022487113489032.
  109. Wright, E., Borg, J., & Lauri, M.A. (2015). Media Education as a tool to promote critical thinking among students, Journal of Education Media, 2, 62-72.
  110. Yang, S.H. (2009). Using blogs to enhance critical reflection and community of practice, Educational Technology & Society, 12(2), 11-21. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/jeductechsoci.12.2.11.pdf.
  111. Ziatdinov, R., & Cilliers, J. (2022). Generation Alpha: Understanding the next cohort of university students, European Journal of Contemporary Education, 10(3), 783-789. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2202.0142.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rem-2025-0004 | Journal eISSN: 2037-0849 | Journal ISSN: 2037-0830
Language: English
Page range: 28 - 41
Published on: Jun 21, 2025
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

© 2025 Alessio Castiglione, published by SIREM (Società Italiana di Ricerca sull’Educazione Mediale)
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.