Effects of On-line Portal Interactions on Teachers

Abstract

The roles of social media and other on-line portals are becoming indispensable in the Digital Age as employees are keeping up with information and communication technology innovations. This study was conducted to determine the effects of using social media and other English as a Second Language sites on on-line teachers’ professional development and interpersonal communication at work. To gather descriptive data regarding the perceptions of 64 purposely selected male and female on-line English teachers in one Korean company in the Philippines, quantitative methods through a survey instrument was used. Majority of the respondents based on the analysis of the data gathered responded that the use social media and other English as a Second Language sites is mainly for professional and social purposes. Keeping up-to-date with world events and connecting to coworkers were the top uses of social media to instructors. In effect, most instructors perceived that they became informed and knowledgeable and sensitive to their co-workers’ concerns. Social media and other on-line portals not only designed for social networking. These are rich resources that on-line teachers can refer to in meeting both social and professional goals but must be used with caution as the perceived effects of the user may have opposite effects on the user in reality.
Keywords: On-line portal interactions, Effects, Professional, Interpersonal communications