#DigPed Narratives in Education: Critical Perspectives on Power and Pedagogy

Abstract

This mixed methods study addresses a knowledge gap in the nature and effects of networked scholarship. We analyze #DigPed, a Twitter hashtag on critical pedagogy, through the lens of Tufekci's capacities and signals framework in order to understand how educational narratives develop and spread on #DigPed. Using social network analysis and thematic analysis of content, we identify three prominent narratives in the network and discuss the network structures from a critical perspective. Based on the findings, we propose pedagogic capacity-the power to initiate a productive and potentially transformative educational discourse, within oneself and within communities-as an additional lens to explore the spread and impact of critical narratives in education. Findings confirm the view that networked spaces are organized by hidden hierarchies marked by influence.