“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”Nelson Mandela

Education is a treasure that influences generations. Teaching and learning are a very important process in the growth of knowledge. I have chosen to use WhatsApp in my classroom as a social media tool. The purpose of using WhatsApp in a learning environment is to lead students to communicate, collaborate, and share information. WhatsApp concept is to build students confidence and increase social awareness. Through using WhatsApp in classroom students can exchange multiple formative of information such as image, video, links, documents, etc. Students will exchange drawings, concept ideas and architectural strategies. In addition, anything students share has to be supported by articles or research. In teaching architectural design students must be engaged in several topics such as sustainable environment, site analysis, and architectural concepts. They must share designs and information relative to the curriculum they are taking. They have to share their favorite architect designer, design style and concept origin. As an educator this will help you to determine students design influences. After the class finishes students should be able to create two and three-dimensional drawings. They should be able to sketch their ideas and concepts. They should be able to use architectural technologies such as AutoCAD, Photoshop, 3d max, etc. Students will cover the curriculum by sharing and brainstorming their interests in design, which has to be reflected in the summative assessment. Students should connect what they read and research with the curriculum material because at the end of the class they will fabricate and implement their architectural designs and concepts by model making and drawing.

The topics that will be covered during the class are 2d and 3d drawings. Site analysis and sustainable resource environment. In addition to the fundamental principles of design and model making techniques. During the class students should develop the skill to solve design problems and be critical thinkers. Plus, they should grow the scene of responsibility to environment and natural resources. Moreover, they should develop their imagination and creativity. Developing such skills will help students to demonstrate their learning and understanding by creating models and drawings. Those outcomes of students will be assessed in two ways, first by rubric and second students feedback.

I have chosen to use WhatsApp in the classroom environment to promote three-way communication, the element of argument, discussion and research. WhatsApp is a tool designed for communication and sharing information without boundaries of the location. I will use WhatsApp to share design concepts and photos that demonstrate real structure examples to help students see the big picture and the function concept. As a start, I will be choosing the social media tool for the students, until they can get used to having social media within a classroom environment and for learning purposes. Once I have seen commitment and consideration from them they can choose their own tool. Putting in mind that once student selects their own tool they have to consider if it is easy to access, use and if it can block bullying and advertising. All students use WhatsApp on a daily basis, so I will create a separate group for the class and invited the students. The group will be closed only invited participates can contribute to the discussion.

Students will be sharing design ideas and concepts they have researched about through WhatsApp and their classmates have to comment and give feedback. Students will have to identify themselves by first and last name. Students will have no administrative access. As an educator, I will be the admin of the group which means I am the only one who can invite and remove students from the group. Students should contribute to the group discussions frequently because it will be considered part of their formative assessment. I will assess students based on the evidence and research they have done to support their opinion or theory. Before starting to use WhatsApp in a classroom I will set some ground rules that I would expect all student to follow. As am dealing with adult learners, I am hoping that there won’t be problems. However, any student who will break the rules will have a deduction in their grades plus they will have extra assignments and work then the rest. I will give students session on respecting other people opinions even if they disagree with it and to be objective in their feedback. In addition, I will share with them guidelines to avoid copyright and bullying. The benefits of choosing WhatsApp is that students only need smart devices to download it and internet connection to stare sharing. Both of those elements are available at each house nowadays. Students have full control over their work if they want to go public and share it with everyone out there or private which means they will share it with their classmates only. I can provide instructional videos and instructions in case students need technical assistance, but I don’t think anyone will need that with WhatsApp.

Using social media tool in a classroom is a very important project. I would put my time and effort to make sure that the implementation process goes smoothly and without hiccups. As an educator with master’s degree in instructional technology, I have developed the skills and expertise to carry on such project. I will be involved with students step by step to monitor their ideas, discussions, and interests. I will share with students my expectation and the end result from using WhatsApp in the classroom which is to create a safe environment to share their ideas without the barrier of being wrong or shy. Monitoring students involvement and progress through WhatsApp will help me to know my students better. I will evaluate the effectiveness of WhatsApp in classroom environment by conducting poll everywhere survey to get feedback from the students.