"Is there anybody out there": Twitter as a support environment for first year teachers' online induction workshop

Abstract

This research examines the benefits of Twitter as a support tool to enhance social interaction among participants in an online induction workshop; to aid the workshops' moderator in monitoring the group and enhance and support the early-service teachers' growth and resilience. The 2344 tweets that were posted during the induction workshop enabled the workshops' moderator constant monitoring of the participants' progress, lows and highs. They reveal a process of socialization among the participants which leads to personal and professional support, thus enhancing the new teachers' professional growth