Page 130 - Buletin JSKM 2021

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Pinned chats YES YES
Pinned messages to top of group YES NO
chat
Mute all groups by default YES NO
Polls in group chat YES NO
Delete message from group member YES NO
as administrator
Folder structure for chats YES NO
Bolt YES NO

Table 1 has listed some common features for a Mobile Messaging Application, the difference
is on the limitation and quality of each features. Teaching and learning would be very
interesting if the interactive component of multimedia is well utilised among users, for example
the combination of text and voice message in explaining certain concept n lesson would help
students consistently focus. Image and short video sharing are very easy and performed in any
formats of files. Features from Table 1 is significantly for learning, example the use of pinned
message on top of chat box allow lecturer to pin important message or date for students to
remember and the message easily being switch back and forth from new to old pinned message.
Apparently from above comparison, Telegram performs much more significant features to be
implemented in teaching and learning session. Thus, here onwards the discussion will be
focusing on using Telegram for teaching and learning.

Telegram Group and Channel for Teaching and Learning
One of the latest ways to deliver teaching and learning instead of creating group Telegram
alone is by creating channel. Telegram Channel used to send one-way broadcast messages to
the members known as subscribers. Most of Mobile Messaging Apps have this channel but
Telegram promotes the most outstanding features where allows very large broadcast with no
limitations and no fees. Mixing the usage of Channel and Telegram groups for particular
course, promotes a new way of exciting online learning. Here is basic information of the
channel and the difference between Channel and group. Channel is lightweight way to provide
latest information of your lesson or courses activities to all students across groups. Channel
can act as short-form blog or as live blog which you can easily pick-up the phone and post
quick thoughts, pictures and videos in real-time.
Channel has unlimited subscribers thanks to telegram cloud-based data storage, meanwhile
group allow up to 200,000 members. Channel allow only admin to disseminate information,
meanwhile group is an interactive communication which everybody can disseminate
information and use the features.

Figure 1. International Geographic Channel (source: https://respond.io/blog/telegram-channels)