21. Best Paper Presenter Award

 [Blog of the Annual-cum-International Conference 2015]

  Mr. Sandeep Patil

 Assistant Professor, Azad College Of Education, Satara (M.S.)

who  presented  a  Paper entitled

Social Media In Teacher Education: Promoting New Age Professional Development

was  adjudged the

BEST  PAPER  PRESENTER

HEARTY  CONGRATULATIONS  SANDEEP

Abstract of Paper

Social media has become a key driving force in human life. Education sector is under its influence in new era. Social Media is emerging as a vital tool in education. Teacher Education is undergoing paradigm shift in 21^st Century. Information & Communication Technologies are at the crux of this transformation. Social media can play a pivotal role in capacity building and continuous professional development of both pre-service as well as in-service teacher community. Social Media through its varied means and modes can integrate technology and constructivist theories to enhance dialogue, reflection, collaboration and learning networking. It can be momentous in preparing teachers as facilitators demanded in neo-millennium. Hence, yawning thought and apposite inclusion of social media in teacher education is indispensable in today’s era.

Aim/ Purpose: The prime purpose of the present paper was to judge the impact of utilizing social media in teacher education programme.

Methodology of Study: This is an experimental study along with a survey. Views of student teachers, in-service teachers and teacher educators about the utility of social media in teaching practice with the help of questionnaire. The study also comprised of an experiment with single group pre-test post-test design. The student teachers from experimental group were introduced to an orientation cum discussion programme regarding utilizing social media in their professional preparation. Data was collected through Student teachers’ posts and comments, observations and interviews. Pre- and Post- program teaching effectiveness was measured through lesson observation rating scale and compared. Rsults were drawn which lead to some interesting findings.

Findings: The major finding are that i) Social media if introduced with proper orientation aids significantly in teachers professional development, ii) Social media helps in bringing collaboration, reflection, networking among the student teachers. iii) Social media is vital in nurturing teacher as a facilitator evoking constructivism in teacher thought process.

Relevance/ Originality/ Value: It is a small scale research that has introduced social media as a tool in teacher preparation in pre-service mode. Student teachers were extremely satisfied in using social media which can help the teacher in reflecting as a professional. This research can assist the further researches regarding inclusion of social media in teacher education programmes both of pre-service as well as in-service mode.

What are the prospects of social media in Teacher Education Programme? How can the social media be integrated in Teacher Education? How the professional development of teachers can be promoted through social media? These issues are addressed in the present paper.

Key Words: Social Media, Professional Development, Reflection