A model of using WhatsApp for Collaborative Learning in a Programming Subject

WhatsApp is one of the most promising collaboration tools for collaborative learning in HE settings. WhatsApp can provide a solution for students struggling to access learning material on other online platforms and can also enhance learner performance. The aim of the study was to determine which factors predict collaborative learning and learner performance of students who used the WhatsApp social media tool to complete internet programming assignments. The population for the study consisted of 123 students enrolled in the IT department of the Central University of Technology in the Free State Province of SA. The results indicated that both tool usefulness and virtual collaboration effectiveness had a high predictive power towards collaborative learning. Furthermore, results also indicated that virtual collaboration effectiveness and collaborative learning had a high predictive power towards learner performance. The implication of these findings of the study is that the WhatsApp social media tool is an effective collaboration tool to improve collaborative learning and learner performance of students and specifically support information technology students to successfully complete internet programming assignments.