Preservice Teachers’ Social Networking Sites Usage and Identity Development: A Comparative Study

• In Event: Sunday Roundtable Session 11:25 am
  In Roundtable Session: Social Media Usage and Teacher Identity (Table 41)

Abstract

This study investigates preservice teachers’ engagement with social networking sites and its influence on their professional teacher identity development. Additionally, it aims to compare the perspectives of preservice teachers from Türkiye and Belgium in this regard. Thematic analysis of the interview conducted with 10 preservice teachers in Turkey and 11 preservice teachers in Belgium revealed that the transformational nature of teacher identity, self-confidence in teaching, and privacy concerns are universal aspects associated with preservice teachers’ SNS participation and their identity development. The analysis suggests that SNS can serve as an effective tool for preservice teachers to develop their professional identity. Additionally, contextual factors play a role in how preservice teachers engage with SNS and how it affects their identity development.

Authors

• Hürriyet Sarıdemir, Middle East Technical University

• Nur Cakir, Middle East Technical University