Evaluation of WhatsApp for promoting social presence in a

first year undergraduate Radiography Problem Based

Learning (PBL) groupBehi, O., Corcoran, A.J., Tomkinson, D., Cowley, V., Cullinane, J., Robinson, L., & Martin, I.

Background

Research Question

Can a mobile group messaging app such as WhatsApp facilitate the development of social presence in a PBL learning group?

(Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2001)

•Engaging with unfamiliar material

•Sharing what isn’t known

•Challenging ideas and statements

Analytical frameworkInteractive responses:

Affective responses:

Omg the researching articles sessions iv just attended in the allerton library was so helpful. I actually feel more positive about the iccp assignmentnow.... just a bit.

Cohesive responses:“Hey guys a few of us are already here so we'll do some studying together”

(Rourke et al., 1999)

Student activity Sept - June

Conclusion

• Conversation limited to learning

• Facilitator driven

• Unpopular amongst students

• Limited socializing

Social presence

Slide sequence - 5-6 slides max• Analytical framework• quantitative finding• qualitative quotes• discussion - future uses, further research recommendations, limitations,

strengths - e.g. analysed by the students• self analysis adds validity because we know what we were saying and

how we meant it• students in the background not contributing but still gaining from

reading it• keep it snappy and interesting, much of the info can be verbalised, • 1 slide background, 1 slide method, 3 slides outcomes, pictures!• image of group of students talking• screenshots of quotes from whatsapp group