Abstract:
The trend for using social media for teacher development started before the Covid-19 pandemic but has now become a far more common and established practice. This report explains why the use of social media is an important tool for teacher development and looks at how online learning theories may be applied to this kind of teacher education.
We include case studies from various countries to show what works best in social media teacher groups. We also conducted a questionnaire to gather insights from teachers worldwide. The questionnaire asked about the use of social media for teacher education, the activities teachers do online, and how useful they find these tools. The result highlight how these tools can help make education more fair and accessible.
The report shows that social media can help teachers improve their skills, even in difficult conditions. Teachers can share ideas, lesson plans, and resources easily. However, there are challenges, such as the cost of internet access and how to keep teachers engaged in online communities of practice over time. The report suggests ways to overcome these challenges to make social media an effective tool for online teacher development.
In conclusion, this report is a valuable resource for understanding how social media can be used to support teacher education in low-resource settings. It provides practical examples and insights into the benefits and challenges of using social media for this purpose. The report emphasises the need to address the challenges to maximise the benefits of social media in teacher education. This helps create more opportunities for teachers to learn and grow, even when they do not have access to in person professional development activities.
To cite this report:
Motteram, G. (2024). Improving teacher development through the effective use of social media groups. British Council. https://doi.org/10.57884/GFVF-W338
A companion toolkit for setting up and sustaining online communities of practice for teachers is also available:
Creating and running successful online groups for teacher development
Watch our webinar:
Supporting teacher development through the effective use of social media groups