Digital academic communication among English education students: A multi-platform ecosystem perspective
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the patterns, functions, perceived benefits, and challenges of digital media use among English Teaching Department students at UIN Mahmud Yunus Batusangkar, Indonesia. A descriptive mixed-methods design was employed with 114 undergraduate students selected through purposive sampling. Quantitative data were collected through a closed-ended questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation, while qualitative data from open-ended questions were analysed thematically. The findings showed that WhatsApp (99.12%), E-mail (95.61%), Instagram (93.86%), and Zoom Cloud Meeting (89.47%) were the most widely used platforms. Students used these platforms for different purposes: WhatsApp mainly supported communication and academic coordination, E-mail supported formal communication and assignment submission, Instagram and Facebook supported information access and interaction and Zoom Cloud Meeting supported online learning and synchronous academic activities. Qualitative findings indicated that information sharing, communication, platform features, and technology awareness were major reasons for using digital media. Students also perceived digital media as beneficial for learning support, information access, communication, and academic task management. However, distraction, time consumption, technical constraints, information quality, and other concerns were also reported. Overall, the findings indicate that digital academic communication operates as a multi-platform ecosystem in which students select and combine technologies according to their academic purposes and contextual needs
Source: English Learning Innovation
Language: English
Subfield: Information Systems
Field: Computer Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204544405