TY - CHAP
T1 - A Sense of Community in a Professional Learning Community of Chemistry Teachers
T2 - A Study of an Online Platform for Group Communication
AU - Waldman, Ruth
AU - Blonder, Ron
N1 - This research was supported by the Trump Foundation [grant numbers 154]; the National Chemistry Teachers’ Center the Ministry of Education [Tender: 09.07.13]. We would like to thank the leading team of the chemistry PLC: Dr. Dvora Katchevich, Dr. Malka Yayon, Dr. Rachel Mamlok-Naaman, Mrs. Sara Ekons, Dr. Shelley Rap, and Mrs Enas Easa.
PY - 2020/2/21
Y1 - 2020/2/21
N2 - A professional learning community (PLC) is one of the most promising means for promoting teachers’ professional development. For building a mature and strong community of educators, where members are more engaged, share practices, collaborate in their teaching, and make their teaching public, it is crucial to develop a real sense of community (SoC). A major factor in establishing a SoC is the integration of an online platform, which creates a new type of social space where members can learn and socialize across boundaries of time and place. WhatsApp is a widely used smartphone application that enables and enhances group communication as it knits together the community. In this study we examined the leading chemistry teachers’ PLC, which meets every other week. Between the meetings, the members use a WhatsApp group that provides an online communication platform. WhatsApp group discourse was analyzed throughout two academic years. It was found that the discourse can support the creation of four elements that are needed for creating a SoC. Supporting mechanisms underlying SoC development were identified, and accordingly, methods to be employed by the group leaders to strengthen the SoC were recommended.
AB - A professional learning community (PLC) is one of the most promising means for promoting teachers’ professional development. For building a mature and strong community of educators, where members are more engaged, share practices, collaborate in their teaching, and make their teaching public, it is crucial to develop a real sense of community (SoC). A major factor in establishing a SoC is the integration of an online platform, which creates a new type of social space where members can learn and socialize across boundaries of time and place. WhatsApp is a widely used smartphone application that enables and enhances group communication as it knits together the community. In this study we examined the leading chemistry teachers’ PLC, which meets every other week. Between the meetings, the members use a WhatsApp group that provides an online communication platform. WhatsApp group discourse was analyzed throughout two academic years. It was found that the discourse can support the creation of four elements that are needed for creating a SoC. Supporting mechanisms underlying SoC development were identified, and accordingly, methods to be employed by the group leaders to strengthen the SoC were recommended.
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-29396-3_7
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-29396-3_7
M3 - فصل
SN - 978-3-030-29396-3
SP - 111
EP - 139
BT - STEM Teachers and Teaching in the Digital Era
A2 - Ben-David Kolikant, Yifat
A2 - Martinovic, Dragana
A2 - Milner-Bolotin, Marina
CY - Cham
ER -