Title: Seeking an online community for professional development discourse: a content analysis of teachers' blogs

Authors: Tatyana G. Pashnyak, Vanessa P. Dennen

Addresses: Florida State University, 307 Stone, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA. ' Florida State University, 307 Stone, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

Abstract: This paper presents a content analysis of a sample of blogs from one blog community of classroom teachers. It offers a glimpse into both the personal and professional aspects of teachers| lives and identifies the ways classroom teachers are using blogs to cope in an increasingly challenging profession. The findings show that at least some teachers find blogs to be a useful technology for communicating with other teachers. They can share ideas, ask questions, offer and find solutions, share stories and experiences or simply socialise with other classroom teachers, thus providing informal support to each other via a virtual community of practice.

Keywords: teachers; blogging; communities of practice; virtual communities; online communities; web based communities; teacher blogs; weblogs; professional development; informal support; communication.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2009.025215

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2009 Vol.5 No.3, pp.392 - 406

Published online: 16 May 2009 *

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