ERIC Number: EJ1169563
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1750-1229
EISSN: N/A
Investigating the Building of a WeChat-Based Community of Practice for Language Teachers' Professional Development
Qi, Grace Yue; Wang, Yuping
Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, v12 n1 p72-88 2018
This study explores the process of Community of Practice (CoP) building for language teachers' professional development through the support of a WeChat group. WeChat is an instant messenger app that provides a multimodal platform for one-on-one and group interactions through text, audio and video. In order to support the implementation of flipped classrooms in a Chinese programme offered in an Australian university, a teachers' chat group was created on WeChat for just-in-time and collaborative professional development. This qualitative study focuses on three dimensions in the CoP, namely, mutual engagement, a joint enterprise, and a shared repertoire to examine how these Chinese teachers worked together to form their own CoP in their WeChat group. Qualitative data were collected through group chat interactions on WeChat, teacher reflective journals and a focus group discussion through audio conferencing on WeChat. Discussions of the strategies and challenges involved in the building of an active and sustainable online CoP through social media contribute to our understanding of professional development in a digital age.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Computer Mediated Communication, Discussion Groups, Communities of Practice, Language Teachers, Faculty Development, Computer Oriented Programs, Blended Learning, Second Language Instruction, Chinese, Qualitative Research, Teleconferencing, Social Media, Content Analysis, Focus Groups, Journal Writing, Reflective Teaching
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A