Exploring Student Online Interactions and Learning in a Languaging Course

This study investigates the online social platforms utilized by 40 students to discuss their hobby projects and explores the types of posts shared during their interactions. Additionally, it evaluates the outcomes of students’ interactions on these platforms and identifies the benefits they gained from engaging in online discussions in the “Hobby Course”, a class designed using the approach of languaging curriculum in a Thai university. The researchers questioned the types of online social platforms and posts the students used for their hobby discussions. Also they examined the results of the students’ interactions in such platforms as well as the benefits the students gained from such online interactions. Data were collected through a qualitative analysis of students’ online interaction reports, posts, and interactions within online communities related to their respective hobbies. The findings reveal a diverse range of online platforms employed by students, including Reddit, Facebook groups, Instagram, Discord and X (Twitter), with various types of posts shared such as questions, requests for recommendations, sharing work for feedback and interactions with other members’ posts. The outcomes of students’ interactions included receiving feedback, gaining knowledge and insights, building a sense of community, enhancing skills, and overcoming challenges. In general, students derived benefits from their online interactions in terms of learning, skill development, social connection, and personal growth within the context of their hobby projects.