Peer Scaffolding Using WhatsApp

This study explored the Omani EFL learners’ perception of WhatsApp as a peer scaffolding tool, in online teaching and learning (henceforth OTL). Using a questionnaire, the data was collected from 138 Omani undergraduate EFL learners majoring in English. The questionnaire targeted the learners’ overall perception of the usefulness of using WhatsApp and their preference for peer scaffolding strategies when using WhatsApp during OTL. The participants have an increasing appreciation for using WhatsApp as a platform for peer interaction and collaboration especially during and after the OTL. The students use a variety of peer scaffolding strategies via WhatsApp with procedural strategies on-task completion being the most preferred. The findings indicate that WhatsApp is an affordable, accessible, and easy-to-use social media platform that offers students a virtual ZPD for language learning. In addition, peer scaffolding via WhatsApp is equally multidimensional as face-to-face peer scaffolding.

本研究探讨了也门英语作为外语（EFL）学习者的WhatsApp作为同伴支架工具在在线教学与学习（以下简称OTL）中的认知。通过问卷调查，收集了138名主修英语的也门本科生EFL学习者的数据。问卷旨在调查学习者对使用WhatsApp的整体认知及其在OTL期间使用WhatsApp时对同伴支架策略的偏好。参与者对将WhatsApp作为同伴互动和协作平台的认知日益提升，尤其是在OTL期间及之后。学生们通过WhatsApp使用多种同伴支架策略，其中以任务完成过程中的程序性策略最为受欢迎。研究结果指出，WhatsApp作为一种经济、便捷且易于使用的社交媒体平台，为学生提供了语言学习的虚拟最近发展区。此外，通过WhatsApp进行的同伴支架与面对面同伴支架同样具有多维度的特点。