Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of WhatsApp use for education and determine the opinions of students towards the process. The study was designed in mixed research model which combines both qualitative and quantitative data. In the quantitative aspect of the study, quasi-experimental design, with a pretest-posttest control group, was used and the data were analyzed by two factor variance analysis for mixed measurements. The analysis indicated that both learning environments have different effects on the success of students and that supporting the traditional environment by using WhatsApp is more effective for the increase of success. For the qualitative aspect of the study, content analysis techniques were employed to analyze the data which were collected by open-ended question forms. The analysis showed that students developed positive opinions towards the use of WhatsApp in their courses. They demanded the same practice in their other courses as well. They reported that learning could also take place unconsciously and the messages with images were more effective for their learning. However, a few students have expressed adverse opinions about the timing of some posts and the redundant posts within the group. Finally, it is suggested that use of WhatsApp in education process be encouraged as a supportive technology.
Highlights
With their increasing time, scope, and frequency of use, internet technologies have started to shape the way people form and share content and their way of communication
Within the framework of these needs, development of mobile versions of these programs that carry the social structure from real life to virtual environment and eliminate the time and space limitations, has become inevitable. This process, which started by commonly used web based social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in particular, began to be approached in different dimensions after the introduction of the messaging applications rooted in mobile phones and are designed for mobile phones (WhatsApp, BBM, Line, etc.)
In this research, which was conducted with 10th grade secondary education students, the determination of the impact of WhatsApp use on success in education process, which is one of the instant messaging application, and the opinions of the students towards the process was aimed
Summary
Scope, and frequency of use, internet technologies have started to shape the way people form and share content and their way of communication. Within the framework of these needs, development of mobile versions of these programs that carry the social structure from real life to virtual environment and eliminate the time and space limitations, has become inevitable. This process, which started by commonly used web based social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in particular, began to be approached in different dimensions after the introduction of the messaging applications rooted in mobile phones and are designed for mobile phones (WhatsApp, BBM, Line, etc.)
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