Members of Scotland’s biggest teaching union will hear concerns about the amount of time teachers are expected to spend on Twitter and other social media platforms.

The EIS’ annual general meeting in Aviemore this week will consider a call for an investigation into the issue and, subsequently, the publication of advice and guidance for teachers over the use of social media as a means to communicate with families and pupils.

Teachers ‘pressured’ into using social media

A motion from the union’s Edinburgh and Glasgow local associations will seek support for an investigation and a report looking into:

• The extent to which schools are using social media, such as Twitter, as a method of communication with parents.
• The pressures teachers feel are being put on them by school leaders and employers to use social media, such as Twitter, to communicate with parents and pupils.
• The amount of time spent by staff updating such social media platforms and whether this is included in working time agreements.
• Whether devices are provided by employers for the purpose of using social media.

• Social media: Scottish teachers demand action over abuse on social media
• Podcast: The rise of AI, and how global schools are responding
• Education reform: Nine big messages from “national discussion” on Scottish education
• Guidance: 10 ways Scottish schools can improve parent engagement
• Also today: How do children in Scotland travel to school?

The impact of technology on teachers and pupils also features in a number of other motions at the union’s AGM.

One motion will ask the EIS to reaffirm “the primacy of face-to-face, in-person classroom interactions as a fundamental component of quality learning and teaching”. The Glasgow EIS local association wants the union “to ensure that the National E-Learning Offer (Nelo) and any plans for the expansion of online learning options will not lead to the replacement or devaluing of the role of the classroom teacher in delivering quality learning, teaching and assessment”.

Meanwhile, two motions from the Highland local association address concern over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI).

One calls for guidance on the “potential misuse” of AI bots and apps by students for coursework purposes. Another seeks assurances from qualifications bodies, such as the Scottish Qualifications Authority, that they will act as a “gatekeeper” and ensure that any attempts by students pass off AI-generated work as their own is detected.

The union’s AGM takes place from Thursday 8 June to Saturday 10 June, with details available here.