THE IMPACT OF VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES AND ETWINNING ACTION ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION IN CLASSROOMS

Abstract

This article is a part of a doctoral dissertation title with “Teachers in Social Networks” supervised by Prof. Dr. Mustafa Sever. This study aims to discuss the role of virtual communities and social networks in the future of education, aiming to uncover their usage in education. The quantitative aspect of the research, conducted through a mixed-method approach, includes an online survey directed at 6,005 teachers actively engaged in social networks. Data collected through the survey were analyzed using frequency distributions, mean scores, and percentages. In the qualitative component of the study, online interviews were conducted with twenty-five teachers serving in different regions of Turkey, across various subject areas and grade levels. The findings of this study indicate a vital role of social networks in helping teachers stay current, track changing and evolving trends, and enhance their personal and professional development. Teachers perceive these networks as valuable resources for disseminating information acquired from social networks and colleagues to their classrooms. However, the research also highlights teachers' concerns regarding security and privacy issues on social networks. It is anticipated that the proposed digital platform will serve as a source of inspiration and guidance for academics, practitioners, and existing literature alike.