Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of Using WhatsApp in Group Discussions

Abstract

This paper investigated the usefulness and challenges of using WhatsApp in group discussions from the pre-service teachers’ perspectives. Quantitative design was used involving 73 pre-service teachers from a teacher education institute in Malaysia. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using frequency counts and percentages. Findings from the study revealed that WhatsApp is a useful mechanism for group discussion due to its convenience, ability to boost confidence, facilitate group discussion and learning within and outside class hours, enhance language skills, and develop critical thinking skills. Among the challenges of utilizing WhatsApp Group encountered by the pre-service teachers were useful messages or explanations may get lost in long messages, mere acceptance of others’ opinions based on the majority, time-consuming to type long messages, and long response waiting time slowed down the process of learning. Findings from the study provide useful insight into the future of education in the digital era as educators, relevant authorities and society need to move in tandem with the paradigm shift of using mobile applications, including WhatsApp to support traditional classroom teaching and learning.