Schools in Transition: How Teacher Preparation Programs Prepare K-12 Teachers to Teach Online
Abstract: Online learning offers flexibility, expands instructional opportunities for students, and has become increasingly prevalent in schools across the United States (Watson, Murin, Vashaw, Gemin, & Rapp, 2011). The United States Office of Educational Technology emphasizes the need for a teaching force skilled in online and blended instruction. However, it has been noted that classroom teachers are often asked to teach online with little or no experience and training (Rice & Dawley, 2007). Only a limited number of teacher preparation programs have been addressing methods and techniques required for effective online teaching and learning (Archambault & Larson, 2015). This paper discusses the results of a national survey study on how teacher preparation programs are responding to the need for K-12 teachers to be proficient in online teaching.