Knowledge sharing through WhatsApp: does it promote EFL teachers' reflective practice?

Purpose Reflective practice can greatly improve teachers' professional development, and various studies have demonstrated that knowledge sharing has a positive impact on their reflection. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to examine effect of in popular online forum – WhatsApp English as foreign language (EFL) reflective practice. It also aimed probe challenges teachers faced share information daily Design/methodology/approach The experimental pretest posttest. To do so, 60 available EFL were chosen participants. They randomly assigned control groups. Both groups received teaching (ELT) reflection inventory In addition, find difficulties encounter practice, week after treatment, semi-structured interview with 21 volunteer from group carried out. As discussion among regarding took around 1 h lasted two weeks. Findings result posttest revealed outperformed results other factors, lack awareness importance sharing, sticking conventional methods considering authorities' views more trustworthy barriers which impede sharing. Social implications findings could inspire reconsideration role social media plays Iranian teacher education its contributing development well interaction colleagues. call for taking measures eliminate are partly rooted socio-educational context. Originality/value Some argued may contribute promotion reflectivity. There reported involvement does not significant contradictory been effectiveness promoting exploring reflectivity via deserves attention.