Abstract:

This study reports an experience with the communication and interaction tool (WhatsApp) used as a strategy for active participation in the process of teaching learning. The objective is to understand the way in which content information and statements related to the subject are circulated, evaluating the use of WhatsApp as a tool for interacting with students, monitor and teacher. The research has relevance to produce knowledge on the insertion of different methodologies, that seek to innovate with quality the higher education. The study is developed at the Fluminense Federal University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the discipline Psychology of Education, offered to undergraduate students (physics, chemistry, mathematics, letters, biology, history, social sciences and pedagogy). Search procedures: Initially, groups were created in WhatsApp, by choice of the students themselves (a sample of about 110). All the didactic material is made available to groups in the application. Extra-class contact between student and teacher, through WhatsApp, is free. It uses, as theoretical reference, the concept of innovation, mediation of Vygotsky's socio-historical theory and Lucia Santaella's concept of omnipresence.

In this study, questions arrise:
WhatsApp make teaching more motivating?
Does it make teaching more flexible?
What activities and functions can make use of the application?

The action research methodology was applied in virtual space, in groups in the WhatsApp application, under observation and participation of the group, with observation intervention and data collection. " Focus Groups" were also held to evaluate the resources used during the course with the students. The obtained datas were analysed and the outcome presents the forms of use, preferences activity, forms of language used, contents, frequency of use of WhatsApp in private and academic life. The results show that the use of non-specialized or elaborated media for the academy, social networks, it can be an extended use for the academy, generating innovation in the teaching processes. It allows greater plasticity and interactivity also in the educational scope. The smartphone was the support most used by the young students during the research and allows the access to material released anywhere facilitating the monitoring of the content of the discipline. The conclusion pointed to the approval of the methodology by the students, adherence to the process, the students' interest in the tool and the success of the methodology applied.

Keywords:

Innovation, higher education, technologies and media.