Comparing US and Spanish student teachers’ perceptions on social media

Abstract

This study investigated social media use for educational purposes in the contexts of two countries where social media is pervasive, many people manage multiple social media accounts, and the use of diverse services is relatively common. Student teachers (N=153) from two universities in the USA and Spain participated in course-based learning activities with social media, and subsequently were asked about their experiences with and perceptions of such educational social media use. Quantitative data were collected via an online survey featuring primarily Likert scale items, and complemented by qualitative data based on written reflections. Results show positive perceptions in general regarding educational uses of social media among student
teachers from both contexts, although some differences and nuances are observed between the two countries: for example,use of some services were only detected among US students, who at the same time showed more positive attitude towards Twitter and Pinterest. Conclusions reflect on the importance of considering and seeking to influence student teachers’ attitudes and beliefs regarding educational uses of social media.

Keywords: Social media; teacher education; comparative study.