Abstract
In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the use of social networking tools in higher education teaching and learning. Drawing on data from a larger study focusing on student engagement in the online virtual classroom, this paper is based on research conducted with three separate cohorts of students from the Masters in Special Educational Needs (MSEN) at St. Patrick’s College now the Institute of Education, Dublin City University (DCU). Emerging from the first two phases of the research was the use of the WhatsApp social media tool by students as an informal learning space and a means of building connectedness. We explored this finding in more detail in phase three by inviting respondents to comment specifically on their use of social media throughout the programme. It emerged that the use of WhatsApp was widespread, offering students an opportunity to forge a sense of connection and the basis for developing a learning community. This paper will present findings around the use of WhatsApp with reference to literature in three areas connected to the online learning experience: Online learning as a second class learning experience, fostering connectedness within online learning contexts and social media and learning.
Highlights
Despite the proliferation of social media and increased interest in social networking in higher education (Purvis, Rodger & Beckingham, 2016), surprisingly little attention has been paid to exploring the nature of such social practice (O’ Keeffe, 2016)
Respondents from our own data echo the literature explored above with data emerging indicating that students focused a lot on what they felt was ‘missing’ from the online learning experience compared to the face to face classroom
There’s kind of an energy in the room as well, like when you’re finished work and tired and come down, like even like here today, like I was tired when I came through the door and I was thinking ‘oh I have to concentrate now’ but I picked up the energy in the room and I was like, it kind of woke me up a little bit, but if I was at home and just sitting there with a cup of tea listening to you on the computer, it wouldn’t be the same. (F2F focus group 2015/16 )
Summary
Despite the proliferation of social media and increased interest in social networking in higher education (Purvis, Rodger & Beckingham, 2016), surprisingly little attention has been paid to exploring the nature of such social practice (O’ Keeffe, 2016). Data from the second cohort shed further light on student perceptions and expectations of online learning prior to registration. Emerging from this phase was the use of the WhatsApp social media tool by students as an informal learning space and a means of building connectedness for students who were distance learners for the majority of the programme. We explored this further in phases three and four by inviting respondents to comment on their use of social media throughout the programme. It emerged that the use of WhatsApp was widespread and was seen as a very positive experience
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call