Teacher Resources Online

Abstract

The role of the internet is becoming ever more significant in the production and circulation of resources for literacy teaching, and in the process is changing teachers’ relationships with educational resources and professional communities. In this paper, we present case studies of four online resource networks established specifically for educational practitioners: TeacherTube, TES, TWRC Tank and Teacher Toolbox. We explore how and why the managers of these sites engage teachers, the online activities of educators using the sites, and the kinds of literacy teaching resources that are available to them. Based on an analysis of literacy teaching resources and associated activity on these websites, we argue that teacher professionalism in contemporary times involves new digital literacy practices in addition to conventional modes of using textual resources in teaching.