Exploring the relationship of elementary school teachers’ virtual community participation on classroom management by using knowledge sharing as a mediating effect

ABSTRACT

In recent years, virtual learning environments play a significant role in teaching and learning. However, a lack of studies addresses the potential roles played by virtual community participation and knowledge sharing in effective classroom management from teachers’ perspective. In this study, we explore the relationship of virtual community participation and knowledge sharing to classroom management for elementary school teachers. A total of 383 questionnaires of elementary school teachers in Taiwan are analysed by using a two-stage disjoint approach of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). We show that virtual community participation alone may not have a significant impact on classroom management. In addition, teachers’ knowledge sharing has a mediating effect on the relationship between virtual community participation and classroom management. Therefore, effective knowledge sharing can play an important role in improving teachers’ knowledge from online communities for classroom management. These findings can help practitioners and researchers understand more insights into how teacher virtual community activities and knowledge sharing can enhance classroom management.

KEYWORDS:

• Classroom management
• elementary education
• learning communities
• knowledge sharing
• PLS-SEM

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shih-Hsien Tseng

Shih-Hsien Tseng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Industrial Management at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. His primary interests relate to social sciences, new methods for optimal experimental design, and novel statistical methods for quality management and decision-making. His email address is [email protected].

Tien Son Nguyen

Tien Son Nguyen received a Ph.D. in Industrial Management from National Central University (Taiwan). His primary interest is operations research, supply chain management, inventory control, data-driven decision-making, and social media analytics. His email address is [email protected].

Yang-Tzu Su

Yang-Tzu Su is a teacher at Taoyuan Municipal GueiJi Elementary School. Her email address is [email protected].