This document discusses a case study analyzing formal and informal online student communities for open and distance learning (ODL) students. It outlines the design of the study, data collection from student portfolios and interviews, and findings. Key findings included that informal communities like WhatsApp and Facebook groups provided essential social support for ODL students but could also experience some negative interactions like complaints or disagreements. Both positive and negative student quotes are presented exemplifying how the communities fostered connections but some felt isolated in the distance learning format or overwhelmed by message volumes in informal groups.

1. What's up with WhatsApp? Formal
& informal online student
communities
Orna Farrell James Brunton
@orna_Farrell james.brunton@dcu.ie
Orna.Farrell@dcu.ie

2. National Institute for Digital Learning

3. The Case Study

4. Design of study

5. Design of study

6. Student portfolios

7. Student portfolios

8. Analysis

9. Findings

10. Community
Formal
• Module page
• Discussion forums
• Email
• F2F & online classes
Informal
• Study Groups
• WhatsApp
• Facebook groups

11. Formal community

12. Informal community

13. Role of communities for ODL students
Positives ++++
• Essential source of
support,
reassurance,
encouragement and
human connection
• Fostered social
presence and
feelings of belonging
Negatives -----
• Some negative group
interactions such as
complaining,
disagreements and
bullying
• which were described by
participants as stressful
and overwhelming

14. Positives “I feel I am fortunate enough to be
in a group with classmates that
encourage and engage in debates
around various topics in sociology,
whether it be in class, between
breaks or through the online
forum.” (P12 eportfolio entry 1)
“I amalgamate the knowledge I have acquired
organically through discourse and debate. To this end,
I have cultivated a small group of verbose,
opinionated friends with whom I participate in regular
discussions. Our impromptu meetings are reminiscent
of seventeenth-century French Salons; we enjoy
coffee, wine, and good food and deliberate
sociological topics” (P19 eportfolio entry 2)

15. Negatives
“I do a hundred percent, you’d wake up
some mornings and there would be over a
hundred messages on your phone, you
know from that one group, it became too
much for me, I think that was a factor for that
stress I was feeling about putting up posts,
because one or two people would comment
negatively on people’s posts who aren't on
the WhatsApp group and I thought Jesus I
don’t want to be part of this “(P7 Interview 1)

16. Feelings of isolation
“Because it’s very isolated and you’ve
nobody to ask and say well what should I
be doing about this or what resource could I
be using or is this the right
approach. Yeah, it’s very isolated so …”
(P22 Interview 2)

17. Thank
You!