ERIC Number: EJ880782
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-May
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0158-7919
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Needs of Elementary and Middle School Teachers Developing Online Courses for a Virtual School
Oliver, Kevin; Kellogg, Shaun; Townsend, Latricia; Brady, Kevin
Distance Education, v31 n1 p55-75 May 2010
Eight teams of elementary and middle school teachers developed pilot online courses for the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) in the USA. A qualitative case study with focus groups and a follow-up survey helped to identify common needs of these non-traditional course designers during course development efforts. Findings suggest virtual schools can better support non-traditional course designers by providing leadership components such as technical expertise, regular feedback, and clear expectations, including an understanding of the target students. Findings further suggest designers need a range of bite-sized professional development on replicating model courses, using course management systems, assessing learners online, designing with copyright and safety issues in mind, integrating Web tools, and developing course documentation for deployment. The article concludes with a discussion of support structures that may aid instructors tasked with online course development.
Descriptors: Feedback (Response), Focus Groups, Web Based Instruction, Middle School Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, Pilot Projects, Professional Development, Distance Education, Educational Technology, Electronic Learning, Blended Learning, Online Courses, Computer Mediated Communication, Electronic Publishing, Instructional Design, Computer Simulation, Simulated Environment, Virtual Classrooms, Program Development, Program Descriptions, Program Effectiveness, Educational Needs, Case Studies, Teacher Surveys, Technical Support, Integrated Learning Systems, Program Implementation
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A