WhatsApp Messaging: Achievements and Success in Academia

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the use of technological means in general and in academic teaching in particular. Many programs have been developed that include computer-assisted teaching, as well as online courses at educational institutions. The current study focuses on WhatsApp messaging and its use in academia. Studies have found that class WhatsApp groups serve for communicating with students, nurturing a social atmosphere in the classroom, forming dialogue and collaborations between students, and as a means of learning. The current study explored students' level of achievements and satisfaction as part of a WhatsApp group in a case study of a seminar course, with the aim of investigating whether use of a WhatsApp group as part of guiding an academic seminar will improve achievements in writing the seminar paper. The findings show a significant positive relationship between the achievements of WhatsApp users and their satisfaction, such that the higher the achievements of WhatsApp users the higher their satisfaction. This tool was found to have a strong effect on students' achievements. The current findings illuminate the possibilities offered by technological tools for teaching practice.