An Analysis of Prospective Teachers’ Perceptions Concerning the Concept of “Social Media” through Metaphors

Pınar Köseoğlu

doi:10.12973/ejmste/79325

Abstract

This study was conducted so as to determine prospective teachers’ perceptions of the concept of “social media” through metaphors. The study group was composed of 138 prospective biology teachers attending Hacettepe and Gazi universities in 2015–2016 academic year. The participants were given the semi-structured interview form containing the statement “Social media is like ….. because….” And they were asked to complete the statement. The technique of content analysis was used in assessing the data collected. MAXQDA 12, a program for qualitative data analysis, was used in analysing the data. Having analysed the data, they were interpreted. Accordingly, 30.43% of the prospective teachers perceived the concept of social media as a harmful element, the great majority of them (66.67%) perceived the concept positively as an educational, technological, entertaining, indispensable part of life and as an instrument of communication.

Highlights

Changes and developments occurring in technology influence human life in several ways, and the Internet and social media attract the attention of many branches of science
Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, websites permitting social interaction, game sites and video sites such as YouTube are regarded as social media (O’Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011)
This study aims to describe prospective teachers’ perceptions of the concept of “social media” through metaphors

Summary

Introduction

Changes and developments occurring in technology influence human life in several ways, and the Internet and social media attract the attention of many branches of science. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, websites permitting social interaction, game sites and video sites such as YouTube are regarded as social media (O’Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). Social media applications enable users to chat and to interact in writing, in audio or visually (Selwyn, 2012). Using social media provides students with opportunity to interact and cooperate, and it enables them to communicate (Gikas & Grant, 2013). Students as well as institutions use social media increasingly (Davis, Deil-Amen, Rios-Aguilar & Gonzalez Canche, 2012)

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