Date of Award
2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Education (MEd)
First Advisor
Fredrick Mtenzi
Department
Institute for Educational Development, East Africa
Abstract
As digital technologies become increasingly integral to teaching and learning, educational institutions must continuously promote the development of digital skills and competencies among educators. This study explored using the popular smartphone application WhatsApp to enhance personalized learning for participants of the DELM program.
A mixed-methods approach was employed, collecting qualitative and quantitative data through surveys, interviews, focus groups and analytics over two phases. Phase I assessed participants' digital skills using DigComp 2.1 as a framework and identified competency gaps. Phase II consisted of a design-based intervention integrating targeted WhatsApp workshops. Hands-on activities aimed to improve content creation abilities and familiarity with educational applications of the platform.
Findings revealed that WhatsApp facilitated flexible access to learning resources, direct communication aligned with personalized support needs, and collaborative peer learning interactions. Participant feedback highlighted benefits like community building, access convenience, and real-time engagement opportunities. Analytics provided usage insights to optimize the experience.
Critical implications indicated WhatsApp's potential for blended and personalized program delivery. Recommendations focused on guidelines for appropriate use, subject-specific content groups, interactive, collaborative activities, asynchronous participation opportunities, and continual enhancement through user feedback. Harnessing WhatsApp features through these strategies can cultivate engaging, adaptive learning tailored to individuals. This study contributes a new understanding of social media integration into professional development to support digital skill growth and personalized education approaches.
First Page
1
Last Page
126
Recommended Citation
Nyarieko, G. N.
(2024). Investigating the benefits of integrating social media into educational leadership learning. , 1-126.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/etd_tz_ied_m-ed/476