Preparing Special Education Teachers to Teach Online
Authors: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
CIDDL’s latest recorded webinar series highlights preparing special education teachers to teach online. The preparation of educators for online and hybrid instruction has become an essential component of teacher education programs. While the rapid shift to virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the need to prepare teachers for this environment. The continued integration of digital tools into K - 12 and higher education settings underscores its lasting relevance. Additionally, schools are turning to online learning to cope with extreme weather and teacher shortages. Effective online teaching requires more than familiarity with technology; it demands a pedagogical foundation that supports accessible and engaging instruction across diverse learning environments. As research and national standards emphasize, teacher candidates must be equipped not only to navigate digital platforms but also to design instruction that reflects the complexities of learners’ needs, the affordances of technology, and the evolving nature of educational spaces.
Download the webinar supplemental, a one-page document with links to each video, article citations, and extras provided by the authors (e.g., links to slides and other resources).
An Introduction to Preparing Teachers to Teach Online
In this presentation, Professor Michael Barbour examines the development of K - 12 online learning, with a focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped digital education. He traces the history of distance learning—from early correspondence models to modern virtual platforms—and highlights how the rapid shift to online instruction revealed significant gaps in teacher preparation. Drawing on years of research and experience, Barbour outlines six key recommendations for improving teacher education programs to better support online teaching. This webinar offers valuable insights for educators, administrators, and policymakers working to strengthen digital learning environments.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mthZqR_GrI0[/embedyt]
The 2025 Update to the National Standards for Quality Online Teaching
In this webinar, experts Dr. Rachel McBroom, Dr. Allison Powell, and Dr. Helen Williams unpack the latest updates to national online teaching standards, with a special emphasis on special education and digital learning. This session will explore key trends in digital learning and enrollment growth, introduce a newly streamlined five-standard framework for online instruction, and offer practical strategies for integrating these standards into educator preparation programs. Attendees will gain insights into digital citizenship, technology standards, and actionable recommendations for preparing pre-service teachers to thrive in online environments. This session is ideal for faculty in educator preparation programs, special education instructors, educational technology professionals, and administrators focused on teacher training. Discover how these updated standards can elevate online teaching and enhance student success in digital learning settings.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBpurj1xMt8[/embedyt]
Exploring the Utility of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)
In this webinar, Dr. Jessica Herring-Watson from the University of Central Arkansas discusses how the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) can support special educators in using assistive technology more effectively in online learning. Drawing on research from the COVID-19 pandemic, she offers practical guidance for working with students who use assistive and augmentative communication (AAC) devices in virtual settings. The session covers key UTAUT concepts—such as performance and effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions—along with strategies for introducing technology to students, building strong home-school connections, and helping families and educators feel more confident with new tools. This webinar is especially useful for educators and specialists looking to improve online learning for students with diverse communication needs.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPuxTMixo8E[/embedyt]
Honoring Family Spaces: Online Teacher Technology
In this webinar, Dr. Mary Rice, Associate Professor of Literacy at the University of New Mexico, and Joaquín T. Argüello de Jesús, a PhD student in Language, Literacy & Sociocultural Studies, examine how online learning reshapes educational relationships and environments. They emphasize that technology use in education is never isolated—it interacts with subject matter, family life, and community contexts. The discussion highlights how virtual learning often brings educators into students’ home spaces, creating new dynamics and responsibilities. They also critique how schools tend to present knowledge in overly simplified ways, overlooking the complexity of real-world experiences. Additionally, the webinar addresses disparities in digital access across communities and underscores the importance of building trust and recognizing diverse knowledge systems. With a strong focus on equity and cultural understanding, the presentation encourages educators to consider the layered and nuanced ways technology influences learning.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shx9fl0L2v8[/embedyt]
Teaching about Assistive Technology for Online Education
Dr. Vicki Donne, Dr. Mary Hansen, and Dr. John Zeanchock from Robert Morris University lead this webinar on preparing special education teachers to effectively use instructional and assistive technology in online and hybrid learning environments. They share research on how technology is currently addressed in teacher preparation programs and discuss the unique challenges of virtual instruction for students with disabilities. The session offers practical strategies for technology integration, guided by the TPACK framework, and explores how assistive tools can be adapted across different learning settings. Topics include accessibility features, adaptive tools for reading, writing, and math, documenting assistive technology in IEPs, and incorporating hands-on lab activities to build teacher candidates’ skills. This webinar is especially relevant for educators, teacher trainers, and special education professionals interested in strengthening teaching practices through technology.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAgI_RQC0Bg[/embedyt]
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