Becoming the MTBoS: Predicting sense of belonging for a grassroots blogging network

Abstract

This study examines a previously identified grassroots blogging network made up of mathematics and science teachers. The network was identified using data collected in 2011. A follow up was conducted with the same bloggers in 2013. Between 2011 and 2013, many of the bloggers in the original study began using the phrase 'math twitter blogosphere' (MTBoS) to refer to themselves and others in the network. The purpose of this study was to determine what social network features were related to a sense of belonging in the MTBoS two years after the original data collection. Sense of belonging is one of the constructs related to a sense of community. Sense of community is important because it has been shown to be positively related to learning within a community of practice perspective.