Using Facebook as an e-portfolio in enhancing pre-service teachers’ professional development

Abstract

<p class="Body1">This study aims to determine if <em>Facebook</em>, when used as an online teacher portfolio (OTP), could contribute meaningfully to pre-service teachers’ professional development (PD) and in what ways the OTP can be meaningful. Pre-service teachers (<em>n</em> = 91) were asked to develop OTP using <em>Facebook</em> and engage in learning and professional development (PD) activities for 14 weeks. Questionnaires, open-ended items and reflective reports were used to collect data and it was found that many of the pre-service teachers benefitted quite significantly in terms of their development as future teachers through these five facets: (i) community of practice; (ii) professional learning and identity; (iii) relevant skills; (iv) resources; and (v) confidence.</p>