This is a presentation that talks about the role of Social Media in Teacher Professional Development

1. Social Media in Teacher
Professional Development in
Saudi Arabia: a case study
Presented by Pir Suhail A. Sarhandi

2. Professional Development ?
Professional development is defined as
activities that develop an individual’s
skills, knowledge, expertise and other
characteristics as a teacher.
 Formal
 Informal

3. Social Media ?
SOCIAL + MEDIA
Media is an instrument on communication,
like a newspaper or a radio, so social media
would be a social instrument of
communication.

4. Why Professional Development?
 rapid changes in ELT
 institutions face new challenges
 teachers’ roles and responsibilities

5. About the study
This study analyses continuing professional
development in the context of ELT in a university in
Saudi Arabia, and focuses on the potential of social
media tools used as means of making teacher
professional development (TPD) both relevant and
specific. It examines the characteristics of ‘effective’ TPD
and, within that framework, analyses the concept of
social media, its applications and effect on TPD.

6. Methodology
• Questionnaire on TPD through social media
was distributed amongst 100 teachers using
www.kwiksurveys.com .
• Five teachers were interviewed on Skype.
• Content Analysis

7. Participants
 Male and Female
 Preparatory Year Program Instructors
 Age ranging from 25 to 50+
 All working at the same English Language
Institute ( men & women campuses) at a Saudi
university.

8. Findings & Discussion

19. Professional Learning Needs:
Institutional vs. Networked PD
activities
Institutional PD activities Networked PD activities
ALWAYS
7.8% 6.25%
OFTEN
29.69% 40.62%
SOMETIMES
42.19% 31.25%
RARELY
18.75% 15.62%

21. Which of the following statement(s) best describe(s) the role
of social media in teacher professional development?
Networked/ informal professional development often addresses my professional learning needs.
18.37%
It is an economical tool for professional development.
25.85%
My working environment doesn’t acknowledge this kind of professional development.
11.56%
Due to numerous options it is very difficult to choose one appropriate social networking site for PD.
12.24%
Most communities of practice share endless irrelevant links/content/videos that contribute to the
noise of the internet and lose the social aspect of social media.
6.12%
I can easily collaborate and share ideas, teaching tips, classroom experiences, lesson plans and job
opportunities with other professionals globally in real-time situation.
21.77%
It doesn’t help at all rather it wastes a lot of time.
4.08%

22. Teachers’ perception about social
media in professional
development
• Access
• Mobility
• Functionality

23. Conclusion
 Social media can be an add-on tool for TPD
if encouraged and acknowledged by the
policy makers.
 Social networking sites create informal
opportunities for teachers to engage in the
on-going, collaborative and free professional
development activities around the globe.
 Social media can provide support to the
practicing professionals in a “learning
anytime, anywhere” mode.

24. Email: ssarhandi@yahoo.com
Skype: pirsuhailahmed
Tweet: ssarhandi