New Media Based Learning Practices; Use of Social Networks, Wikis and Blogs at University Education in Turkey
Idil Sayimer, Asiye Yuksel, Baris Demir

Abstract
The rapid developments in information and communication technologies, affecting every aspect of life at the end ofthe 20th century have led to a digital revolution which created a new virtual world including virtual offices, virtual stores and even virtual classroom environment. In this context, working, shopping, educational and learning practices have been transforming for decades. All of these developments and the new media tools provide individuals to reach information sources in an easier and unmediated way, enable instantaneous, interactive communication and information-sharing. Today the whole world of web technology, for the need of access to information in terms of providing enriched learning environments are becoming widespread use for educational purposes. Especially blogs and wiki technologies have supportive role in active learning, constructive learning, cooperative learning and group working learning methods in educational processes. Those social networks are also considered for their positive effects on students' critical, analytical, creative and intuitive thinking and learning skills while making a contribution in information society access as well. The aim of this study is to reveal how and at what rate the social network sites, wikis and blogs are used at the level of higher education in Turkey in general education activities. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted at communication facultiesof universities across Turkey among academicians. As planned an exploratory study for this research, the survey was designed with open-ended questions. Research findings show that communication faculty scholars tend to use social networks to engage in personal communication and rarely blog for education purposes, mostly because of the absence of new media use skills. The paper offers the use of blogs for higher education planning model in order to disseminate academic knowledge and to provide a mutual interaction among scholars and digital age students as a challenge of new media.

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