Student Perceptions of the Use of TikTok in Education

Abstract

This study investigates student perceptions of TikTok and its potential to be used as an educational tool. TikTok’s popularity has prompted educators to examine its use in the classroom, especially through the lens of microlearning, though its use as an entertainment source may affect the way students perceive it in an academic context. This research looked at a sample of undergraduate and graduate students who participated in courses in which creating a TikTok was an optional component of an assignment. Participants completed a survey to share their opinions on the inclusion of TikTok in the assignments and their broader perceptions of the app in personal and professional settings. Results show a range of perceptions about TikTok in both settings, highlighting creative possibilities for educational settings but also hesitation from students about TikTok’s credibility as a platform for digital learning. The study highlights the need to more carefully examine student attitudes toward popular apps like TikTok in education and how they may affect desired learning outcomes. This research is framed in the scholarship of teaching and learning, where the researchers collaborated on practical pedagogical experiences through the integration of a new technology and assessment of its effectiveness in the classroom.