How well classmates communicate support with each other may significantly influence how well they learn and their commitment to learning. This study asked students which aspects of supportive communication they use with each other and which aspects they regard as most important for successful study. One hundred polytechnic students participated in this study. They rated how frequently they experienced and how influential they considered 18 aspects of supportive communication between classmates for study success. The students regarded many aspects of supportive communication influential but few aspects were present in most instances. They experienced and valued able and motivated supporters, and supportive relationships with classmates the most.  Students in similar years of study experienced and valued similar aspects of supportive communication. Training a whole class in supportive communication may develop positive shared values among the students and a climate that encourages mutual support. Courses that provide ongoing activities and opportunities for students to develop their skills in communicating support may produce more successful students.

The evolution of technology enables educational institutions to provide innovative ways to support students' learning, and as a result, there is an increasing trend in adopting business innovations such as e-learning solutions and online learning platforms. An empirical study was conducted to explore the effect of using Moodle and Facebook on business students' motivation to learn. It hypothesized that students will be more motivated to use social media Facebook over Moodle as a learning tool in tertiary education. Participants were students enrolled on the first year of a business program. Participants were given access to both the Moodle online learning platform and Facebook to use throughout the first semester of 2017. Lecturers posted questions on Moodle and Facebook on a weekly basis to which participants were asked to provide responses. Findings from this study confirmed the validity of using social media in tertiary education. Implications for the business community engagement with educational institutions are discussed.