Using Whatsapp to communicate with students.

Students today embrace digital technology in many forms. You are very unlikely to find a student that does not use a smartphone of one description of another. 

Social communication within groups, externally to their classes can be enhanced by tutors using social media to communicate with students directly.... one such method is to utilise Instant Messaging (IM). 

Whatsapp is a popular IM tool and allows for two way asynchronous communication.

Why use this technology?

Because students like it!

Have a room change? send a group text to advise students.

Want the group to revise a topic ... send them the link or information they need to self-study.

Let the class know their aims and objectives for a particular session. No problem when the group is connected via IM.

Need to communicate directly with a students 1-to-1? this is also very easy with IM.

What is very useful is that you have a record of what has been said within the group or by particular students.