WIP: ChatVis: Enhancing Academic Team Collaboration through WhatsApp Chat Analytics

This work in progress research paper describes the development and utilization of ChatVis, a novel tool designed to enhance collaboration and teamwork, key learning outcomes emphasized in engineering and computing curricula by industry employers and accrediting bodies such as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Instructors implement project-based learning to help students develop these skills, often using communication platforms like WhatsApp, Slack, and Discord. Despite the availability of tools supporting teamwork and collaborative learning, a truly non-invasive method for collecting and evaluating interaction and team dynamics remains elusive. ChatVis addresses this gap by enabling instructors to assess team dynamics and individual contributions effectively without disrupting student workflow. Deployed in a C Programming course at a university in Mexico, ChatVis involved 33 students in a mini project, significantly improving student interaction, communication, and engagement. Instructors were able to visualize and provide targeted feedback on student engagement and team dynamics, thereby enhancing the quality of student work. Future work will extend this preliminary study with a comprehensive analysis aimed at determining the statistical significance and broader impacts of ChatVis.