Educators’ Perspectives on and Motivations for Using an Online Education Marketplace: The Case of TeachersPayTeachers.com
Abstract: The online education marketplace TeachersPayTeachers.com (TpT) is a popular space where educators exchange classroom and instructional resources. Despite signs of substantial TpT use, research on how and why educators use TpT is limited. This in-progress research sought to address the gap in the literature by surveying TpT users regarding the site. We have received more than 1350 responses to date. Preliminary analyses suggest that most respondents used TpT at least on a monthly basis to search for specific resources, as well as to see what they might find. Participants most frequently used TpT resources to enliven their teaching and fill gaps in their curriculum. They estimated spending close to $200 on average over the last 12-months on the site, with more than two-thirds of participants strongly agreeing or agreeing that in general, TpT content is high quality. Finalized results will provide insight into educators’ motivations and experiences related to an important new player in the education resource marketplace.