The Educational Affordances of Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM): Results of Whatsapp® Used in Higher Education

The popularity of Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) has prompted educators to integrate it in teaching and learning in higher education. WhatsApp® is a multi-platform instant messaging application widely used worldwide, however, there is still little applied research on its use as a platform for educat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of distance education technologies 2018-04, Vol.16 (2), p.51-64
Main Authors: Klein, Amarolinda Zanela, Junior, José Carlos da Silva Freitas, Mattiello da Silva, Juliana Vitória Vieira Mattiello, Barbosa, Jorge Luis Victória, Baldasso, Lucas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Administrator Education
Analysis
Attitude Measures
Collaboration
Computer Oriented Programs
Content Analysis
Distance learning
Education
Education, Higher
Educational Technology
Group Discussion
Handheld Devices
Instant messaging systems
Knowledge management
Learning
Qualitative Research
Questionnaires
Statistical Analysis
Student Attitudes
Surveys
Teachers
Teaching
Technology Integration
Technology Uses in Education
Telecommunications
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:The popularity of Mobile Instant Messaging (MIM) has prompted educators to integrate it in teaching and learning in higher education. WhatsApp® is a multi-platform instant messaging application widely used worldwide, however, there is still little applied research on its use as a platform for educational activities in management higher education. In this article, the authors present a quantitative and qualitative assessment of a concrete experience of WhatsApp® use that involved 140 undergraduate management students. Data were collected through questionnaires answered by the participants after the end of the experience of use, and also via content analysis of their conversations inside their WhatsApp® groups. The results indicate five main educational affordances of MIM that can be considered in management education: interactivity, knowledge sharing, sense of presence, collaboration and ubiquity. The article also explores the limitations of this tool and provides suggestions of good practices of MIM use for teaching and learning.
ISSN:1539-3100
1539-3119
DOI:10.4018/IJDET.2018040104