Practice Makes Perfect: Examining Preservice and In-Service Teachers' Experiences in an Online Community of Practice

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 60
  In Roundtable Session: Policy and Practice in Social Studies Teacher Education

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the experiences of pre-service and in-service teachers in an online Community of Practice known as #sschat. Findings indicate that pre-service teachers participated in the chat because it was a class assignment and their participation was therefore less authentic than that of the in-service teachers. In contrast, in-service teachers found participating in the chat to be a valuable and worthwhile experience. Furthermore, pre-service teachers indicated that they would rather lurk in the chats, than actually participate, and then use the #sschat archives to find relatable and useful information. Lastly, this study sheds light on the needs and potentiality of utilizing Twitter chats as a way to help the field of social studies education move forward.

Authors

• Ricky Dale Mullins, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• David Hicks, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University