Instant Messaging Systems for learning in higher education - a literature review

Author(s):

Marco Wolf(presenting / submitting)

Conference:

ECER 2015

Network:

Emerging Researchers' Group (for presentation at Emerging Researchers' Conference)

Format:

Paper

Session Information

ERG SES G 02, ICT and Education

Paper Session

Time:

2015-09-08

09:00-10:30

Room:

303. [Main]

Chair:

Shosh Leshem

Contribution

The role and potential of online learning communities has received considerable attention in the field of educational research (Grell & Rau 2014; Selwyn 2011; Lim & Al-Shawabkeh 2014). Especially communication is an essential element of learning and constructing knowledge (Mathiasen 2008). Platforms like Moodle and Mahara are providing communication features, but in many cases the communication and co-operation among the students is very limited or at least it isn´t satisfying due connection and interaction problems within these platforms (Grell & Rau 2014).

Instant Messaging Apps like WhatsApp have become one of the most popular apps among young people over the past few years. Until today, over 600 million people have downloaded WhatsApp on their mobile devices (statista.com), hence, WhatsApp (and other instant messaging apps) has become an important part of daily communication for many people. Due communication is an essential element of learning and constructing knowledge, the main question seems to be, how instant messaging is currently utilized for educational purposes in higher education (respectively universities) and whether it is already practically used for mobile learning contexts.

The aim of this paper is to provide an preliminary overview of evaluation studies and other papers. The intention is to clarify, how instant messaging is used among different universities in European countries and to identify possible fields of usage in higher education scenarios.

Method

A number of authors have shown that systematic literature reviews have become an important methodology for the fields of qualitative research (Dixon-Woods et al. 2007; Moher et al. 2009, p.1; Saunders & Rojon 2011; Torraco 2005). This research focuses on an international comparison of fields of action in mobile Instant Messaging learning contexts at higher educational contexts between the countries Germany, the UK and Scandinavia. Matching literature is selected on the basis of the relevant portal “Science direct”, which includes a number of incisive journals (i.e. computer & education) and relevant evaluation studies. According to the popularity of the mobile instant messaging app WhatsApp, the research stays focused on this application and just articles from 2009 to 2015 are considered.

Expected Outcomes

As mentioned above, social media networks and internet technologies are already being used in higher education. This literature review provides an overview of educational research about mobile instant messangers for learning contexts in higher education.

References

Al-Shawabkeh, Abdallah; Lim, Andriew: "The Use of Social Media In Higher Education Learning: Swot Analysis of Using Social Media for Learning." Proceedings of the European Conference on Social Media: ECSM 2014 (2014). Academic Conferences Limited Dixon-Woods M, Booth A, Sutton AJ.: Synthesizing qualitative research: a review of published reports. Qualitative Research. 7(3) (2007), pp. 375-422 Online available: http://www.sagepub.com/lichtman2estudy/articles/article8-1.pdf Grell, Petra; Rau Franco: Medienbildung 2.0. Soziale Onlinenetzwerke in der pädagogischen Diskussion. In: Computer + Unterricht 24 (2014), Nr. 95, pp. 14-17 Mark N.K. Saunders & Céline Rojon : On the attributes of a critical literature review, Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice, 4 (2) (2011),pp.156-162 Online available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17521882.2011.596485 Mathiasen, Helle: Is there a Nexus between Learning and Teaching? - Communication as a Fasciliator of Students´ Knowledge Construction. In C. Nygaard, & C. Holtham (Eds.) (2008): Understanding learning-centred higher education. pp. 111-130. Frederiksberg: Copenhagen Business School Press. Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, The PRISMAGroup: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement. PLoS Med 6(7) (2009) Online available: doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097 Selwyn, Neil (2011): Social Media in higher education. London, Routledge. Online available: http://sites.jmu.edu/flippEDout/files/2013/04/sample-essay-selwyn.pdf Torraco, Richard J.: Writing Integrative Literature Reviews: Guidelines and Examples. In: Human Resource Development Review, 4(3) (2005), pp. 356-367. Onlinesources: statista.com http://www.statista.com/statistics/258749/most-popular-global-mobile-messenger-apps/

Author Information

Marco Wolf (presenting / submitting)

TU Darmstadt

Fachbereich 3

Darmstadt

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