Building Teacher-Student Rapport through Messenger App

Abstract

Promoting a friendly classroom atmosphere between teachers and students, and among the students it is paramount in an effective teaching-learning process. Utilizing available resources to have a positive classroom atmosphere is paramount. Hence, this action research was conducted to determine the effectiveness of using the messenger group chat function in promoting better teacher-student rapport, and as an alternative learning platform. The investigation is exploratory in nature, with the 150 senior high school students for the Academic Year 2017-2018 as the respondents. A survey was conducted to the respondents on how the class messenger chat group helped build classroom rapport and what other benefits they have gained by using the app. The findings established that prior the use of the class messenger chat group, 31.33% and 6% exhibited a fairly reserved relationship and a higher degree of reserved relationship of the students to the teacher, respectively. After a month of using the platform, the number of students with a fairly reserved relationship reduced to 14.67%, while those with a higher degree of reserved relationship was reduced to 2%. Employing independent sample t-test at 0.05 level of significance, the decreased number of students with reserved relationship to the teacher was significant, which meant that the use of the class messenger chat group was effective. Moreover, the respondents vocally said that the application helped them in their academic requirements and in their personal and social struggles. With the above, it was recommended that the use of a class messenger chat group be used as an alternative tool in reaching out to students with the understanding of all involved that it is for an academic forum.