Using the Community of Inquiry framework to analyze emojis as an emerging language in an online educational experience via WhatsApp

Reeves, Jennifer L.; Gunter, Glenda A.; Braga, Junia; Racilan, Marcos

doi:10.1590/1678-460X202238252396

Jennifer L. Reeves

Nova Southeastern University. Fort Lauderdale, FL - USA. E-mail: jennreev@nova.edu.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5494-3990

Glenda A. Gunter

University of Central Florida. Orlando, FL - USA. E-mail: glenda.gunter@ucf.edu.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6441-4814

Junia Braga

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil. E-mail: juniabraga@ufmg.br.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8450-2061

Marcos Racilan

Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG). Belo Horizonte, MG - Brazil. E-mail: marcosracilan@cefetmg.br.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0382-2443

Conflict of interests

(multiple authors) The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Credit Author Statement

We, Jennifer L. Reeves, Glenda A. Gunter, Junia Braga and Marcos Racilan, hereby declare that we do not have any potential conflict of interest in this study. We have all participated in study conceptualization, methodology, study design, data collection, formal data analysis, statistical data analysis, data validation and editing. All authors approve the final version of the manuscript and are responsible for all aspects, including the guarantee of its veracity and integrity.

Figures (5)
Tables (10)

Thumbnail

Figure 1
Location of the Participants

Thumbnail

Figure 2
Types of Emojis Used to Support Cognitive Presence

Thumbnail

Figure 3
Types of emojis used to support Teaching Presence

Thumbnail

Figure 4
Types of Emojis Used to Support Social Presence

Thumbnail

Figure 5
Gender and Types of Emoji Used

Thumbnail

Table 1
Community of Inquiry Coding Template

Thumbnail

Table 2
Description of the Most Frequently Used Emojis by Participants

Thumbnail

Table 3
Cognitive Manifestations in the Groups

Thumbnail

Table 4
Teaching Manifestations in the Groups

Thumbnail

Table 5
Social and Affective Manifestations in the Groups

Thumbnail

Table 6
The Relationship Between Attitudes and Emoji Use

Thumbnail

Table 7
The Relationship Between Age and Emoji Use

Thumbnail

Table 8
Descriptive Statistics for Gender and Emoji Use

Thumbnail

Table 9
Gender and Emoji Use t-test results

Thumbnail

Emoji Cognitive (n) Teaching (n) Social (n) Total (n) 🙃 4 1 6 11 🤭 14 2 20 36 👍 47 18 74 139 😔 2 1 4 6 🤗 4 1 11 16 🥰 40 12 59 111 🙌 9 8 18 34 👏 107 29 153 161 😃 21 6 31 56 🐰 0 0 4 4 47 5 60 112 🙂 31 0 40 71 💤 0 0 2 2 🔆 0 0 3 3 🧟♂ 0 0 2 2 😜 2 1 5 8 😴 0 2 5 7 ☕ 1 4 4 9 😉 37 56 158 251 😘 13 10 35 58 😍 24 12 41 77 😂 33 20 68 121 😅 9 7 17 33 ♥ 10 5 21 36 😊 51 5 64 120 😬 20 4 23 47 👆 17 12 8 37 🙋 4 2 5 11 🤔 10 1 9 20 😄 9 5 17 31 🤩 2 0 3 5 🍦 0 1 2 3 😇 1 1 2 4 😁 15 13 31 59 😱 6 2 4 12 😕 2 0 3 5 ✈ 0 2 0 2 😋 9 3 12 24 😭 3 0 3 6 🤣 7 14 20 41 ☝️ 3 0 2 5 😢 2 0 1 3 📚 2 0 0 2 😟 2 0 3 5 🎉 0 6 6 12 🌹 1 0 7 8 ❣ 3 5 9 17 🤝 4 0 9 13 😳 3 3 10 16 👇 4 5 2 11 👌 3 0 3 6 🙏🏻 6 0 9 15 👊 2 0 2 4 👋 0 0 2 2 🤳 0 6 4 10 👶🏻 1 0 4 5 ✋ 1 0 4 5 😆 3 4 7 14 🙈 5 1 7 13 🌸 8 0 10 18 🗣 0 2 1 3 ✍ 8 0 1 9 😔 2 0 1 3 💓 2 0 2 4 💪 1 1 2 4 ✅ 3 0 0 3 🎯 16 0 0 16 Note. Only emojis that were used more than one time were included in the table. The emojis were listed in this table in the order they appear in the interactions.

Elements	Categories	Indicators (examples only)
Cognitive Presence	Triggering Event	Sense of puzzlement
	Exploration	Information exchange
	Integration	Connecting ideas
	Resolution	Apply new ideas
Social Presence	Emotional Expression	Emotions
	Open Communication	Risk-free expression
	Group Cohesion	Encouraging collaboration
Teaching Presence	Instructional Management	Defining and initiating discussion topics
	Building Understanding	Sharing personal meaning
	Direct Instruction	Focusing discussion

Emoji	Name and description
👏	Clapping Hands
👏	Two hands clapping. Expression of hurray, applause, bravo, very well done or being in agreement.
😉	Winking Face
😉	Facial gesture of winking. Expression of humor, approval, appreciation, and understanding.
👍	Thumbs-Up
👍	Hand with thumb turned up. Stands for approval, agreement and commitment. Can mean well done or liking.
😂	Face With Tears of Joy
😂	Big grin, uplifted eyebrows, and smiling eyes shedding tears. Funny, giggling, pleasing, or something unbelievably humorous that makes us cry laughing.
😊	Smiling Face With Smiling Eyes
😊	Shy and embarrassed grin. The red cheeks are expressing joy. Represents happiness and positivity.
	Smiling Face
	Shy grin with eyebrows. Communicates a broad range of warm and positive feelings, including satisfaction, gratitude and affection.
🥰	Smiling Face With Smiling Eyes and Hearts
🥰	Romantic emoji commonly used to express warm fuzzy feelings or uplifted mood. Can also express a feeling of love or being in love.
🤣	Rolling On The Floor Laughing
🤣	Smiley face laughing out of control. Something is so funny that we roll on the floor. Can represent very interesting and extremely humorous, and entertaining.

Indicators	Excerpts from course interactions
Sense of puzzlement	“Are we going to learn how to make videos like this? Is it possible? 😊” (Group 3)
Information Exchange	“I suppose they love to do It. Compare with us! Everyone here so happy sharing our experience here 😃” (Group 1)
Information Exchange	“awesome idea 💡 I’ll try this out!” (Group 6)
Connecting ideas	“I think that would be cool the students make a tour by the city and take selfies in monuments, interesting places as a presentation of our homeland to a stranger. “Bora” value our culture!❣” (Group 5)
Connecting ideas	“As I work with technical courses, I usually teach Ss who take photography related disciplines. We use their photographs of our city to work descriptions and directions. But now, I’ll love to work with the selfies!/ 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏” (Group 2)
Apply new ideas	“In this case, in public School, that some of them didn’t have smartphone even internet. What did I do? I print some balloons like a model of smartphone. Then they create a dialogue between them 🤭” (Group 1)

Indicators	Excerpts from course interactions
Defining and initiating discussion topics	“I think you have added me to 2 groups 🙂
	Can I pls stay in just one?” (Group 1)
	“hi y’all! I’m not a digital game player myself so I think that resources related to entertainment (vernacular) games such as reviews, narratives, walkthrough, etc can be a way to integrate games in the classroom. What do you think of this strategy 😉?” (Tutor’s post in group 4)
Sharing personal meaning	“Participant A: I’ll start teaching about places and giving directions now and you have given me a nice idea to work with my students. This can be done using google maps as well, right? Students can write reviews about places they have gone.
	Participant B: I had the same idea. 😃” (Group 6)
	“[participant’s name], I also had the opportunity to work with a deaf student some years ago. Exploring multimodal and digital resources was very effective to engage him with the classes and classmates. I believe going digital with our practice can be a way of real integration and not just creating special and different materials for one student. Nowadays, there are many websites with ideas and activities. I can send you later.” (Tutor’s post in group 1)
Focusing discussion	“Guys, let’s think about what a good review should contain... It is different from a comment.. 😉❤️ check the example on the posts!” (Tutor’s post in group 4)
Focusing discussion	“Make sure you write an informative one so that your peers feel like commenting. 😉” (Tutor’s post in group 5)

Indicators	Excerpts from course interactions
Emotion expressions	“After a busy day... a little messed up 😳 I am [participant`s name] and I am part of Taba’s team.” (a tutor’s post in group 4)
	“I’m answering the activities. 😬” (Group 3)
	“I guess we first have to fulfill the expectations for the previous task 🙈” (Group 5)
Humor	“I’m feeling like a zombie 🧟♂ ! 😜” (a tutor’s post in group 1)
	“Lucky u it was on this day... 😅 Just kiddin’” (Group 3)
	“Remember! I’m 55 years old 😂😂😂😂😂😂” (Group 1)
Greetings	“Glad to meet you too 😎📚” (Group 3)
	“Good night to all of you! I’m sleepy. God bless you! See them tomorrow! 😴😴😴😴” (Group 5)
	“Happy easter, everyone! 🐰😊” (Group 2)
Acknowledging others	“🥇 Congrats for being the first one to post your 🏆🤳👏🏻” (a tutor’s post in group 5)
	“Thanks [participant`s name]for helping me 👍🏻🙏🏻” (Group 3)
	“Great presentation!!! 👏🏻👏🏻” (Group 1)
	“U can use it ” (Group 3)
Group cohesion	“We are together 💪🏻” (Group 3)
	“Hi, [participant’s name]! I’m glad you’re here, buddy! 🤗😃” (a tutor’s post in group 1)
	“Kicking off the ball. ⚽ Getting ready to start working! A blessed Wednesday for you all! 🙏🏻” (Group 1)

	Ready to Use			Willingness to Apply
Presence	N	r _s	p	N	r _s	p
Cognitive Presence	61	.32	.01*	61	.31	.02*
Teaching Presence	61	-.09	.48	61	-.01	.94
Social Presence	61	.20	.12	61	.24	.06

	Age
Presence	N	r _s	p
Cognitive Presence	61	-.07	.62
Teaching Presence	61	.10	.44
Social Presence	61	.04	.74
Total Presence	61	-.002	.99

	Male Participants			Female Participants
Presence	n	M	SD	n	M	SD
Cognitive Presence	21	8.00	8.38	39	10.13	2.29
Teaching Presence	21	.00	.00	39	.13	.34
Social Presence	21	9.67	9.87	39	12.97	19.84
Total Presence	21	5.89	6.02	39	7.75	11.27

Presence	t	df	p	Mean Difference	95% CI
Cognitive Presence	.63	58	.53	2.13	(-4.68, 8.94)
Teaching Presence	2.36	38	.02*	.13	(-.02, .28)
Social Presence	.72	58	.48	3.31	(-5.94, 12.56)
Total Presence	.70	58	.49	1.85	(-3.44, 7.15)

Emoji	Cognitive (n)	Teaching (n)	Social (n)	Total (n)
🙃	4	1	6	11
🤭	14	2	20	36
👍	47	18	74	139
😔	2	1	4	6
🤗	4	1	11	16
🥰	40	12	59	111
🙌	9	8	18	34
👏	107	29	153	161
😃	21	6	31	56
🐰	0	0	4	4
	47	5	60	112
🙂	31	0	40	71
💤	0	0	2	2
🔆	0	0	3	3
🧟♂	0	0	2	2
😜	2	1	5	8
😴	0	2	5	7
☕	1	4	4	9
😉	37	56	158	251
😘	13	10	35	58
😍	24	12	41	77
😂	33	20	68	121
😅	9	7	17	33
♥	10	5	21	36
😊	51	5	64	120
😬	20	4	23	47
👆	17	12	8	37
🙋	4	2	5	11
🤔	10	1	9	20
😄	9	5	17	31
🤩	2	0	3	5
🍦	0	1	2	3
😇	1	1	2	4
😁	15	13	31	59
😱	6	2	4	12
😕	2	0	3	5
✈	0	2	0	2
😋	9	3	12	24
😭	3	0	3	6
🤣	7	14	20	41
☝️	3	0	2	5
😢	2	0	1	3
📚	2	0	0	2
😟	2	0	3	5
🎉	0	6	6	12
🌹	1	0	7	8
❣	3	5	9	17
🤝	4	0	9	13
😳	3	3	10	16
👇	4	5	2	11
👌	3	0	3	6
🙏🏻	6	0	9	15
👊	2	0	2	4
👋	0	0	2	2
🤳	0	6	4	10
👶🏻	1	0	4	5
✋	1	0	4	5
😆	3	4	7	14
🙈	5	1	7	13
🌸	8	0	10	18
🗣	0	2	1	3
✍	8	0	1	9
😔	2	0	1	3
💓	2	0	2	4
💪	1	1	2	4
✅	3	0	0	3
🎯	16	0	0	16

[1] Conflict of interests

(multiple authors) The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Brasil

Brasil

Using the Community of Inquiry framework to analyze emojis as an emerging language in an online educational experience via WhatsApp

Usando o modelo de Comunidade de Conhecimento para analisar emojis como linguagem emergente em experiências educacionais via WhatsApp

ABSTRACT