Gattupalli and colleagues publish paper on educational uses of WhatsApp.
Exploring how educators can leverage apps like WhatsApp to build classroom communities & strengthen student connections.
Content
Sai Gattupalli, a PhD student in Math, Science and Learning Technologies (MSLT), and researchers from the Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya and EdSutra Online Learning published a paper in the proceedings of the 2023 IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies. Titled "WhatsApp Communities: Educational Use Cases", the article suggests that educators can use WhatsApp and its WhatsApp Communities feature to cultivate more equitable digital learning environments. Ivon Arroyo, associate professor of mathematics, science, and learning technologies (MSLT) is a co-author of the paper.
Accepted under the Mobile Applications of Learning Technologies for Education and Development (MALT) track, the article investigates how teachers can leverage WhatsApp Communities, a popular instant messaging feature, to build stronger classroom connections and make learning more interactive. While frequently used for personal communication, WhatsApp has unique potential in education when applied thoughtfully, especially in developing economies where smartphone usage is high.
"From a mobile learning perspective, WACs [WhatsApp Communities] have the potential to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and engaging learning environment," write the authors. "As students increasingly rely on their mobile devices for learning, WACs can help bridge the digital divide, ensuring that learners from various backgrounds have equal access to educational resources."
Gattupalli and colleagues acknowledge several potential challenges to using WACs for educational purposes, including managing large user groups, adhering to privacy laws and policies such as FERPA, and limiting students' reliance on screens for learning.
This conceptual methodology paper provides educators with practical guidance and real-world use cases for incorporating WhatsApp into their teaching. Strategies like facilitating collaborative student workgroups and increasing teacher-student communication can lead to more equitable, student-centered learning experiences.