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.