Harnessing WhatsApp for Engaging Online Lessons

Recently, educators have been introduced to many web applications, such as Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Edmodo, SmartClass+, Blendspace, Padlet, Flipgrid, and more, allowing them to select their preferred platform for online learning. However, due to concerns about familiarity, adaptability, and internet accessibility, most of these platforms are not on their bucket list. Eventually, WhatsApp, the most popular text and voice messaging application with its free web-based international calling and end-to-end encryption, stands out.

Do you know that WhatsApp adds 1 million users every day? It is also the 5th most downloaded app on Android. The best part is that no advertisement appears on this app! Based on my survey among 149 diploma and degree students in March 2020, WhatsApp is the most preferred platform for online learning. Most of the students are comfortable with WhatsApp. When using WhatsApp for learning, they will feel motivated and enthusiastic. This will help them build their confidence and interest to get involved in the activities.

A. Using WhatsApp to Conduct Online Lessons Solutions

Drawing on my personal experience, I will shed light on how to use WhatsApp effectively to conduct online lessons. If you follow these tips, students will certainly appreciate it, giving them a chance to learn through this familiar, simple, and versatile tool!

a. Setup

As an instructor, you must ensure all students install the latest version of the WhatsApp app (Android OS 4.0.3 or above) on their mobile phones. Then, share your mobile phone number with all students. This is essential to ensure the class representatives can invite you to the WhatsApp group. Besides, each student can contact you personally if needed.

b. Rules

Next, set up a set of rules, including the dos and don'ts, with your students. These may include what you want them to do, how they should behave when communicating in the group, what language should be used, and how frequently you will communicate with them using WhatsApp. You may remind the students that a wrong message can be deleted for everyone about an hour after the user has sent a message.

c. Group

One of the best features of WhatsApp is the ability to create a group that includes all the students in a class. However, don't create a broadcast unless you wish to announce a group of students just in one way. Ask your class representatives to create the group, who will also be the group admins. They should invite you to become the group admin, too, to make managing the group easier later. As a group admin, you can also limit a certain number of students from communicating by assigning their roles as group admins under Group Info.

Label each group by class name to avoid confusion or miscommunication if you have several groups for different classes. Below are the five simple steps to set up a WhatsApp group:

1. Open the app and go to the Chats screen.

2. Tap the New Group button at the top.

3. Add the group participants by selecting or typing the contact's name.

4. Add an icon for the group by tapping on the empty photo box.

5. Add a name to the group, then tap Create.

d. Files Sharing

Once the group has been created, you can share course-related documents, assessment sheets, and other teaching materials with your students to deliver your lesson based on your lesson plan. You can easily design various instructional tasks using web links, text, photos, videos, audio, and emojis. The maximum file size for photos, videos, or voice messages to be sent or forwarded is 16 MB on all platforms, and the maximum video length is about 90 seconds to three minutes. If your video is larger than 16 MB, you can trim it in Clipchamp or other applications to reduce the file size.

e. Chat

If you wish to keep a record of your teaching, you can download and share the chat history and media files attached to the group via various applications. Use the export chat feature to export a copy of the chat history from an individual or group chat by following the steps below:

1. Open the individual or group chat.

2. Tap More options.

3. Tap More.

4. Tap Export Chat.

5. Choose whether to export with media or without media.

6. An email will be composed with your chat history attached as a .txt document.

To make the fonts look different when typing, below are the ways of text formatting applied to WhatsApp:

1. Bold text: type an asterisk “ * ” at the beginning and end of the message

2. Italic text: type an underscore “ _ “at the beginning and end of the message

3. Strikethrough text: add a tilde (~) before and after the text

Here are the shortcuts for Android devices:

1. Tap and hold the text in the text field, then choose Bold, Italic, or More.

2. Tap More to choose Strikethrough or Monospace.

For iPhone, you can follow the following steps:

1. Tap the text in the text field, then select or Select All.

2. Choose Bold, Italic, Strikethrough, or Monospace.

B. WeCWI-enabled Instructional Tool  Solutions

To use WhatsApp as a WeCWI-enabled instructional tool, you should focus on group reading, discussion, and writing activities to enhance your students’ language development and critical thinking. To explore WeCWI further, visit WeCWI and the Science of Instruction: The Latest and Most Comprehensive Reference.

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