Classroom Technology

Could TikTok Be Teachers’ New Best Friend?

By Elizabeth Heubeck — July 19, 2023 4 min read
The TikTok app logo appears in Tokyo, on Sept. 28, 2020.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Teacher-generated videos are what’s trending on TikTok these days.

So says a recent study that examined the popularity of TikTok videos created by various professionals between 2016 and 2023. Those linked to the hashtag #teacher garnered 61.3 billion views—second only to those labeled with #doctor, which edged out those from educators with 61.5 billion views.

The study, conducted by Registerednursing.org, an advocacy organization for the nursing profession, showed that the short teacher-created videos (between 15 seconds and three minutes long) span a wide range of themes—from teaching-related tips, tricks, and hacks to venting on the challenges of the profession. Those that have gone viral include snippets of teachers showing grace to students, sharing strategies for teaching kids with ADHD, and offering tips for staying calm in a crisis.

“It’s nice to see something positive coming out of social media. It shows that teachers are not only on the platform giving each other tips, but also educating the rest of the world on what it’s like to be a teacher. Hopefully, that leads to more grace, or props, for teachers,” said Melissa Stephenson, a spokesperson for North Star Inbound, an agency commissioned by Registerednursing.org to collect and disseminate data from its TikTok survey.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence on the surging popularity of teacher-created content on TikTok. A doctoral fellow’s research suggests TikTok has become a popular source of information and learning for pre-service teachers. And, on sites like #teachersoftiktok and #teacher , which had a combined total of 96.1 billion views as of this winter, teachers are posting everything from comedic sketches to knowledge sharing, inspirational ideas, and more.

@bcholeman This is for all the teachers and students out there. Life can hit hard, and we all need some grace. #teacher #middleschool #fyp #foryou #studyhacks ♬ original sound - vision wise

The growing interest in teacher-generated TikTok content coincides with a critical juncture in the teaching profession, as ongoing teacher shortages, stories of teacher stress and burnout, and falling enrollment numbers in teacher training programs create an image of teaching as an unpopular profession. While there is no single solution to the challenges facing the field, social media apps like TikTok do appear to be serving as a new source of information and inspiration among teachers.

A balm for professional isolation

Most teachers perform their jobs in relative isolation from colleagues. When they’re not in their classrooms with students, the job’s additional day-to-day responsibilities leave little time for impromptu sharing sessions with other teachers. So, while TikTok may not be the perfect portal for all that confounds, frustrates, or inspires educators, burgeoning teacher-related social media channels can provide access to information that’s relevant to teachers.

Christine Greenhow, a professor at Michigan State University’s College of Education, led an analysis of a decades’ worth of research studying the impact of social media on teaching and teacher learning. She found that teachers use social media for a number of purposes, including informal learning, to join professional community networks, and even to garner emotional and social support.

“Connecting with people beyond your [immediate] school community,” said Greenhow. “That’s the real power of social media.”

Teachers in training prefer TikTok over traditional PD

Young adults were among the earliest to adopt social media, and they continue to use it at high levels, according to the Pew Research Center. It’s not surprising, then, that many of today’s teachers in training prefer TikTok videos over traditional presentations as a learning technique in their teacher prep programs or professional development sessions, according to Stefanie McKoy, the University of Arkansas doctoral fellow who researched the topic for her dissertation.

“What they liked about TikTok was that it was a short-form video,” McKoy said.

Greenhow also acknowledged the potential for social media as a source of professional development. “Teachers are turning to social media to build a professional community,” she said. “It’s not a replacement for formal PD, but this kind of informal, individualized content is something teachers crave, and they find, on social media platforms.”

Meeting students where they are

Like early-career professionals who grew up as “digital natives,” K-12 students readily and frequently navigate social media. Greenhow urges teachers to take note.

“Reading scores are falling. People are not reading books for pleasure as in years past. A lot of people are consuming information via auditory, moving visuals, etcetera, online, Greenhow said. “If these are the way kids are learning and consuming and creating content, then we as teachers will need to adapt.”

She referenced the popular YouTube channel, @NaturalHabitatShorts, as a source of videos that use an entertaining format to introduce fun facts about animals to young students. “I could see a teacher dropping this creative content into their class to pique students’ interest,” she said.

Proceeding with caution

In spite of the groundswell of interest in TikTok by educators, there’s little evidence of its formal adoption yet by school districts. McKoy suggested one reason why. “I think they’re scared of it,” she said. “There’s limited research on whether what’s [presented on TikTok is] high quality, right?”

That same rationale may cause teachers to hesitate before embracing it in their classrooms.
Greenhow cautioned: “Teachers need to ask themselves: How can I assess that this is something I want to show my students?’”

A version of this article appeared in the August 23, 2023 edition of Education Week as Could TikTok Be Teachers’ New Best Friend?

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Classroom Technology Spotlight Spotlight on AI-Driven Education: Strategies for Enhancing Teaching and Learning
This Spotlight will help you explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning, address responsible implementation, and more.
Classroom Technology Opinion How ‘Innovation’ Fails Education
"Innovation” is mostly an unserious distraction from the real work of rethinking education.
7 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Classroom Technology Leader To Learn From This Tech Director Is Revolutionizing Special Education With Gaming
Evan Abramson led the creation of an esports arena for students with autism spectrum disorder. It may be the first in the country.
12 min read
Evan Abramson, 47, Director of Technology and Innovation at Morris-Union Jointure Commission, sits for a portrait at the school in Warren, N.J., on Jan. 15, 2025. Morris-Union Jointure Commission works primarily with students up to the age of 21 on the autism spectrum. Abramson, through his experience watching his own son with special needs play video games, helped bring an e-sports lab to life at the school in order to help students better regulate themselves.
Evan Abramson, the director of technology and innovation at Morris-Union Jointure Commission, in Warren, N.J., on Jan. 15, 2025. Abramson spearheaded an esports program to help students on the autism spectrum connect with one another and learn new skills. The gaming arena where students play together may be the first-of-its-kind in the country.
Michelle Gustafson for Education Week
Classroom Technology Q&A How a District's Embrace of Esports Is Transforming Special Education
Esports can help build 'soft skills' such as collaboration and teamwork, for students in special education, one district leader says.
3 min read
Evan Abramson, 47, director of technology and innovation at Morris-Union Jointure Commission, sits for a portrait at the school in Warren, N.J., on Jan. 15, 2025.
Evan Abramson, the director of technology and innovation at Morris-Union Jointure Commission, assists a student playing video games in the district's esports arena in Warren, N.J., on Jan. 15, 2025.
Michelle Gustafson for Education Week