Mobilisation through Digital Social Networks for the Professional Development of Higher Education Academics: A Collaborative Construction on the OBSERVA Portal

Higher education academics face growing challenges in engaging with pedagogical professional development, particularly in light of emerging technologies that require the adoption of new teaching practices. In response to this context, the OBSERVA project—launched in Brazil in 2014—established an online portal aimed at supporting the exchange of teaching practices among university educators. This study builds upon the OBSERVA initiative by examining the potential and limitations of using digital social networks to support academic development through the collaborative sharing of classroom experiences. Adopting a phenomenological approach, the research explored academics’ experiences with digital networks in their professional practice. The methodological design comprised six phases: (1) pilot interviews with 12 of 117 participating academics; (2) initial content development for the OBSERVA portal and associated networks; (3) selection of 10 academics with innovative practices; (4) delivery of live broadcasts; (5) follow-up interviews; and (6) online publication of the resulting content. The findings suggest that while academics are generally familiar with social networks in their personal lives, their use for pedagogical professional development remains limited. Participation in the live broadcast sessions encouraged critical reflection and professional learning among contributors. The initiative reached audiences in ten countries, underscoring the need for more structured content production processes in educational settings. In response, two resources were developed: a Good Practices Guide and a Guide for the Collaborative Production of Digital Pedagogical Content, both designed to strengthen the role of social networks in academic professional development.