From "Greatest Teachers' Lounge!" to "As Stupid as the Internet Gets": Educator Perceptions of TikTok

• In Event: Teacher Use of Social Media for Teaching and Professional Development

Abstract

TikTok is among the world’s most popular social media platforms. Its use by educators, however, has received limited scholarly attention to date. Although prior research has explored educators’ engagement with other social media, TikTok has particular qualities that could affect educator use. To address this literature gap, this exploratory research investigated educator TikTok use through an anonymous online survey. Participants (N=415) on average used TikTok more for personal than professional reasons, but nonetheless found ideas there that influenced their content knowledge and pedagogical practices. Distinct from other social media spaces, humor was prevalent in teachers’ engagement with TikTok. Participants reported various challenges associated with TikTok, including finding relevant education-related content and managing the platform’s addictive or distracting qualities.

Authors

• Jeffrey P. Carpenter, Elon University
  Presenting Author

• Scott Morrison, Elon University
  Presenting Author

• Catharyn Crane Shelton, Northern Arizona University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Nyree Clark, University of Redlands
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sonal Patel, University of Redlands
  Non-Presenting Author

• Dani Toma-Harrold, Elon University
  Non-Presenting Author