Abstract
The purpose of this research was to identify students’ views on the use of WhatsApp in an online postgraduate course at a South African Open Distance eLearning institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, lecturers and students relied on their mobile devices to communicate using different tools, including WhatsApp. Although it is a trending communication tool in teaching and learning, little is known about students’ views on using WhatsApp to support teaching and learning in a time of crisis. Within an interpretative paradigm, the research followed a case study design and a qualitative approach. The study used questionnaires with open-ended questions to collect data. The sample consisted of 16 students enrolled for a Master’s in Education programme. Data were analysed using a thematic approach. The findings showed that WhatsApp groups provided students with immediate, fast, easy to use and affordable communication and connection, thus, creating a sense of belonging. However, a possible disadvantage was also observed. A WhatsApp group can defeat its purpose if students use it for non-academic chats and it can become a distraction. This study proposes that institutions of higher learning consider using WhatsApp groups to support learning communities as they can alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, specifically in times of crisis. Furthermore, the study recommends that the purpose of WhatsApp groups should be clearly outlined to students and that lecturers and students should agree upon some ground rules before they start using WhatsApp groups to support teaching and learning.
Highlights
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors globally since the beginning of 2020
A study by Mnkandla and Minnaar (2017) found that social media such as blogs, wikis, Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook and WhatsApp lie outside conventional forms of student support, they could be used to facilitate e-learning in higher education
The phenomenon under study was the use of WhatsApp by a group of students enrolled for a specific qualification at the University of South Africa (Unisa)
Summary
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors globally since the beginning of 2020. Higher education was one of the worst-hit sectors as all institutions had to close to adhere to the lockdown rules that were implemented to save lives. Postgraduate students’ views on the use of WhatsApp groups note that crises such as COVID-19 pose a profound threat to our most basic human needs, which are connection and communication between humans. Higher education institutions use walled platforms such as learning management systems (LMS) to support students (Maboe, 2017), Gomes et al (2015) found that social media can complement this support. A study by Mnkandla and Minnaar (2017) found that social media such as blogs, wikis, Skype, Google Hangouts, Facebook and WhatsApp lie outside conventional forms of student support, they could be used to facilitate e-learning in higher education. Nkhobo and Lephalala (2020) even argue for the importance of integrating online and mobile learning tools for student support in the Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) arena, which is the context of this study
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