Volume 29, Issue 5, 2020
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.1098
USING WHATSAPP IN COORDINATION WITH ZOOM AND MICROSOFT TEAMS TO ENHANCE ONLINE LEARNING DURING COVID -19 LOCKDOWN
Abstract
This study explores the effect of using WhatsApp to enhance the teaching and learning process during the lockdown of COVID-19 and determine students’ opinions regarding its usage. The study is a mixed method, quantitative and qualitative study in which content analysis techniques were employed to analyze the data which were collected by a form and an online survey. The analysis showed that students have positive opinions towards the use of WhatsApp in their online courses in coordination with other e-tools. WhatsApp is effective in increasing the success of the teaching and learning processes. Students demanded the continuation of using WhatsApp in other courses as well. They reported that WhatsApp was influential as it acted as a forum for questions, a platform for collecting links holding discussions and asking questions on the material they did not attend at real time or did not fully understand, and a space for collaborative work. However, a few students have expressed adverse opinions about the timing of some posts and the redundant posts within the WhatsApp groups. Finally, it is suggested that the use of WhatsApp should be encouraged as it is a supportive technology tool.
Keywords
WhatsApp, instant message, social network, mobile social learning, Zoom, Microsoft teams, university students, social networking sites, students’ performance, COVID-19 lockdown.