The Use of Messaging Services Application as an Educational Support Tool: A Focus on Vaal University of Technology Kempton Park Campus

Abstract

The recent years has shown an increasing interest in using messaging services applications as a tool for most sectors globally and this has made messaging services to play a major role in influencing higher education. It is therefore imperative for student guide developers, University faculties and academic management to be on the lookout for any dynamic technology development, applications for social interaction and evolving user preferences. The development of messaging services applications requires some experimentation from research and also for facilitators to find ways to make use of the technology, as this will benefit students in higher education institutions.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the types of messaging services application students use, perception of students on using messaging services application, and evaluate the benefits for using those messaging services applicationsfor educational support by Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Kempton Park campus students. Countless studies have shown increasing interest in the concept of electronic learning (e-learning) been conducted, but most of them focus on Online distance education and Online learning management systems. The significance of this study is that it creates a much greater awareness relating to the influence that messaging services applications can play in supporting teaching and learning in higher education.

The research was conducted at VUT Kempton Park campuslocated in the economic hub of South Africa, the Gauteng province. The researcher conducted an experimental research with unsystematic sample of 212 students selected from a population of less than 1500 students registered students at VUT.This paper also gives an indication to academic leader at VUT Kempton Park campus that more needs to be done to support undergraduate students.