Examining Social Media’s Use as a Transitional Tool for Online/Remote Teaching during the Early Weeks of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Case research examined primary and secondary level teachers' use of a social media network during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the research sought to identify themes and sub-themes associated with these teacher networking efforts during the first three weeks of the transition to online/remote teaching. A blend of phenomenology, network analysis, and historical analysis was used to examine several social media hashtags used by teachers during this timeframe. Results are reported using three broad themes: 1) knowledge sharing/building, 2) skill building, and 3) affective, or dispositional issues and concerns. Emergent categories are identified as well allowing for explanation and exploration of the data. Examples of posts demonstrating alignment with major themes are shared. This data will be of interest to teacher educators and administrators interested in what was going on in schools during the early pandemic era. It will also be useful for instructional technologists, policy makers, and others interested in learning more about these issues and about how teachers' social media use early in the pandemic reflected the evolving situation in primary and secondary schools.