Perceptions of Social Media Use by Idaho Educators: Information for Policy Development

The purpose of this study was to gather perceptions from Pre K-12 public school educators in Idaho regarding their social media use and their opinions about social media use policy. The results of the study were intended to provide educational leaders in Idaho with information to facilitate policy development or revision. A survey was designed using Survey Monkey. Survey items were developed during the literature review and piloted before hand. These items were categorized as social media use for education, social media policy development, and balance between administrative control and individual rights. The survey was distributed to large, medium, and small school districts from Northern, Central, and Southern Idaho. Five hundred and two people completed the survey in its entirety. Data was then organized and analyzed though the lens of each demographic allowing for comparisons to be made and patterns to be identified. The demographics included sample totals, geographical regions of Idaho divided into three areas (North, Central and South), the sizes of the districts that participated (Small, Medium and Large), grade level work assignments of participants (Elementary K-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12, District Office Employees), and social media use by participants (those that use social media, those that use it sporadically, and those that did not use social media). Results should be applied as representation of the larger population of Idaho educators with caution. However, from those that participated in the study there were clear results of the distinct perceptions between digital natives and digital immigrants, the identified need for training, the tension that exists between administrative control and individual liberties, and perceptions of what should be included in a social media policy.doctoral, D.Ed., Leadership and Counseling -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-1