WHATSAPP AS A SOCIAL MEDIA TOOL FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS (CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT)

ABSTRACT

Whatsapp is quickly becoming one of the most popular platforms for group communication, where anybody can trade, share, remark, debate, and produce information and knowledge collaboratively. With the rise of social media, which is fast transforming the communications environment, its development has had a huge influence on how students learn and instructors teach. Lecturers, students, and others engage in knowledge-building activities in today’s higher institution environments.

Social media is defined as “the relationships that exist amongst a network of persons.” Every year, the effect of social media on teaching and learning conditions grows, and its uses may strengthen class materials, and favorably affect exchanges, collaborative work, and community-oriented work, among other things. Lecturers and students are experimenting with social media platforms to promote cooperation, information production, knowledge building, and critical thinking abilities. The primary goal of the study is to identify knowledge gaps in the use of WhatsApp in the teaching and learning process in formal settings that can be effectively utilized in the educational system.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1

STUDY BACKGROUND

In recent years, the development of Whatsapp has changed communication and facilitated teaching and learning activities. Social networking has blended learning and has become one of the most important communication tools among young people, and is often used for the technique of integrating both in-person and online learning experiences while instructing students. In a blended learning course, students may attend a regular classroom class given by a teacher while simultaneously independently completing online course components outside of the classroom. In this situation, in-class time may be substituted or augmented by online learning experiences, with students learning about the same subjects online as they do in class; that is, the online and in-person learning experiences would parallel and complement one another (Edglossary, 2016).

Using Social Networking Sites (SNSs) in teaching and learning has a beneficial influence on SNS uptake and opens the door to new learning and teaching possibilities. Whatsapp is a mobile programme that enables users to connect with one another through mobile devices and PC. For the following reasons, Whatsapp may be utilized for teaching and learning: Smartphones (Android operating system), PC, laptops, iPad, Tab, and the Web are all supported. Compatible file types include jpeg, audio, video, pdf, excel, word, and PowerPoint. Large files are transferred. 250 members, access to old/past communications, and members may add members. improved storage capacity and administration improved memory system and administration Encryption provide more security. Whatsapp may also be accessible over the web and simply operated on a laptop, which can be utilized to engage students in novel and flipped learning modes.

Users (students) send all communications, both incoming and outgoing, and they may be shown on numerous platforms at the same time. Whatsapp may also be used to conduct flipped learning sessions before class meetings, as a way of communicating with students, and after the class lecture. According to Selamat (2015), WhatsApp may be used to tackle the following problems and can also be utilized for blended learning: Announcement 2. Forum, which is a whole-class debate 3. Examinations 4. Unstructured question 5. Report on group project Practice listening 7. Practice your pronunciation 8. Rehearsal for public speaking 9. Practice writing ten. Audio input and feedback 11. Video feedback/input 12. Solving problems 13. Distribution of content/materials 14th gives a PowerPoint presentation. According to Heba (2015), the following benefits of using WhatsApp in 21st-century education:

1. It has a high-security feature since it gives greater security than any other messenger software in the social media circle, and all communications are encrypted for protection and privacy. 2. Whatsapp also has the benefit of providing exceptionally quick messaging service; 3. It has no adverts and is absolutely free. 4. It provides unrestricted cloud storage. Whatsapp is a student-centered asynchronous teaching software that combines online learning materials to promote knowledge exchange across a network of individuals outside the limits of time and location. Asynchronous learning is based on a student-centered approach that promotes peer-to-peer interactions. This strategy promotes learning by combining self-study with asynchronous interactions, and it may be used to assist learning in conventional on-campus education, distant education, and continuing education (Denysiuk, Plavutska & Fedak, 2018) 1.2

THE PROBLEM STATEMENT

Whatsapp is a strong social networking software that may be used for numerous purposes other than schooling. It allows numerous company firms to market their businesses in order to promote and raise knowledge about their goods and services, as well as get feedback from clients. The question of whether WhatsApp enhances or degrades a student’s academic performance is often reflected in broader problems associated with its overall use (e.g., privacy and safety concerns; its psychological effects; individual self-discipline and self-regulation concerns; human adaptability concerns). Another significant issue impacted by the app’s use. People may use this technology for cooperation, networking, and productivity, but it can also be utilized for less noble goals. As a result, this study looks at WhatsApp as a potent social media tool for teaching and learning. 1.3

STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The primary goal of the study is to look at Whatsapp as a social media tool for teaching and learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions. With the following goals in mind: Examine students’ perceptions on the usage of WhatsApp for teaching and learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions. Effectively examine the use of WhatsApp for teaching and learning in order to enhance student academic achievement. 1.4 QUESTION FOR RESEARCH 1. How do university students use Whatsapp for teaching and learning? 2. How do students feel about the usage of Whatsapp for teaching and learning? 3. Do pupils have enough data to browse Whatsapp on a daily basis? 1.5

HYPOTHESIS OF RESEARCH 1. There are no substantial disparities in WhatsApp use among university students. 2. There is no substantial association between Whatsapp use and student perception. 1.6

DEFINITION OF TERMS – Whatsapp: WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging service that enables iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia smartphone users to send and receive free text, picture, video, and audio messages. – Student: a person who attends school or college. – Social media: websites and apps that allow users to produce and share content as well as engage in social networking. – Encrypted: To prevent unwanted access, turn (information or data) into a cipher or code. -JPG: is a lossy graphics file extension. -PDF: a file format that allows you to read, print, and electronically transfer an electronic image of text or text and graphics that appears like a printed document. – Asynchronous: characterized by or necessitating a type of computer control timing protocol in which a specific operation begins upon receipt of an indication (signal) that the preceding operation has been completed.

Whatsapp is quickly becoming one of the most popular platforms for group communication, where anybody can trade, share, remark, debate, and produce information and knowledge collaboratively. With the rise of social media, which is fast transforming the communications environment, its development has had a huge influence on how students learn and instructors teach. Lecturers, students, and others engage in knowledge-building activities in today’s higher institution environments. Social media is defined as “the relationships that exist amongst a network of persons.” Every year, the effect of social media on teaching and learning conditions grows, and its uses may strengthen class materials, and favorably affect exchanges, collaborative work, and community-oriented work, among other things. Lecturers and students are experimenting with social media platforms to promote cooperation, information production, knowledge building, and critical thinking abilities. The primary goal of the study is to identify knowledge gaps in the use of WhatsApp in the teaching and learning process in formal settings that can be effectively utilized in the educational system.

1.1 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND

In recent years, the development of Whatsapp has changed communication and facilitated teaching and learning activities. Social networking has blended learning and has become one of the most important communication tools among young people, and is often used for the technique of integrating both in-person and online learning experiences while instructing students. In a blended learning course, students may attend a regular classroom class given by a teacher while simultaneously independently completing online course components outside of the classroom. In this situation, in-class time may be substituted or augmented by online learning experiences, with students learning about the same subjects online as they do in class; that is, the online and in-person learning experiences would parallel and complement one another (Edglossary, 2016). Using Social Networking Sites (SNSs) in teaching and learning has a beneficial influence on SNS uptake and opens the door to new learning and teaching possibilities. Whatsapp is a mobile programme that enables users to connect with one another through mobile devices and PC. For the following reasons, Whatsapp may be utilized for teaching and learning:

Whatsapp may also be accessible over the web and simply operated on a laptop, which can be utilized to engage students in novel and flipped learning modes. Users (students) send all communications, both incoming and outgoing, and they may be shown on numerous platforms at the same time. Whatsapp may also be used to conduct flipped learning sessions before class meetings, as a way of communicating with students, and after the class lecture.

According to Selamat (2015), WhatsApp may be used to tackle the following problems and can also be utilized for blended learning:

According to Heba (2015), the following benefits of using WhatsApp in 21st-century education:

1. It has a high-security feature since it gives greater security than any other messenger software in the social media circle, and all communications are encrypted for protection and privacy.

2. Another benefit of WhatsApp is its lightning-fast texting service.

3. It is 100% free and has no advertisements.

4. It provides unrestricted cloud storage.

Whatsapp is a student-centered asynchronous teaching software that combines online learning materials to promote knowledge exchange across a network of individuals outside the limits of time and location. Asynchronous learning is based on a student-centered approach that promotes peer-to-peer interactions. This strategy promotes learning by combining self-study with asynchronous interactions, and it may be used to assist learning in conventional on-campus education, distant education, and continuing education (Denysiuk, Plavutska & Fedak, 2018)

1.2 THE PROBLEM’S STATEMENT

Whatsapp is a strong social networking software that may be used for numerous purposes other than schooling. It allows numerous company firms to market their businesses in order to promote and raise knowledge about their goods and services, as well as get feedback from clients. The question of whether WhatsApp enhances or degrades a student’s academic performance is often reflected in broader problems associated with its overall use (e.g., privacy and safety concerns; its psychological effects; individual self-discipline and self-regulation concerns; human adaptability concerns). Another significant issue impacted by the app’s use. People may use this technology for cooperation, networking, and productivity, but it can also be utilized for less noble goals. As a result, this study looks at WhatsApp as a potent social media tool for teaching and learning.

1.3 STUDY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The primary goal of the study is to look at Whatsapp as a social media tool for teaching and learning in Nigerian tertiary institutions. With the following goals in mind:

1. How do university students use Whatsapp for teaching and learning?

2. How do students feel about the usage of Whatsapp for teaching and learning?

3. Do pupils have enough data to browse Whatsapp on a daily basis?

1. There are no substantial disparities in Whatsapp use among university students.

2. There is no substantial association between Whatsapp use and student perception.

– Whatsapp Messenger: WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform instant messaging programme that enables iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, and Nokia smartphone users to send and receive free text, picture, video, and audio messages.

– Student: a person who attends school or college.

– Social media: websites and apps that allow users to produce and share content as well as engage in social networking.

– Encrypted: To prevent unwanted access, turn (information or data) into a cipher or code.

-JPG: is a lossy graphics file extension.

-PDF: a file format that allows you to read, print, and electronically transfer an electronic image of text or text and graphics that appears like a printed document.

– Asynchronous: characterized by or necessitating a kind of computer control timing protocol in which a particular operation commences upon receipt of an indication (signal) that the previous operation has been completed.