Whats up with Whatsapp? Formal & informal online student communities

This paper reports on a qualitative study which investigated the formation of formal and informal communities within one cohort of online distance learners. The project adopted a case study approach, following twenty-four... [ view full abstract ]

This paper reports on a qualitative study which investigated the formation of formal and informal communities within one cohort of online distance learners. The project adopted a case study approach, following twenty-four online distance learners over the course of one academic year.

Data were generated using the participant eportfolio entries and two-time semi structured interviews. The participants were interviewed with their eportfolio, written, visual and physical artefacts from the participant’s eportfolio were used as stimulus during the interviews.The analytical approach for the study was thematic analysis, a data led approach following the Braun & Clarke (2006) six phases of thematic analysis.

Findings indicate that participants placed a high value on the peer communities they formed over the course of the academic year. Three types of formal and informal peer communities were formed, the official institutional community which interacted on the VLE discussion fora, the student generated and student led class community which interacted on Whatsapp and smaller cohorts of student generated study groups which interacted on Whatsapp and Facebook. These peer communities were perceived by participants to be an essential source of support, reassurance, encouragement and human connection. However, the findings suggest that informal online student support groups can lead to negative  group interactions such as complaining, disagreements and bullying which were described by participants as stressful and overwhelming.