Preparing Teachers to Teach Online is Still Relevant and Imperative
Authors: Samantha Goldman; info@ciddl.org
As students across the country return to the classroom, we are reminded of the dire teacher crisis. According to the National Coalition on Personnel Shortages in Special Education and Related Services, 98% of school districts report special education shortages. Teacher preparation programs and education professionals nationwide are developing innovative solutions to increase the teacher workforce, including Teacher Residency Programs (see Washington Education Association) and the Paraprofessional to Teacher Pathway Programs (see the University of Kansas). And while these programs are working to create additional teachers, many schools are still reportedly understaffed.
Online Learning as a Solution?
During the pandemic, 56.6 million students were engaged in online learning.
Since the pandemic, the concept of online and hybrid learning has become a mainstream concept. While many may have first heard of online learning due to the emergency, the federal government has funded distance learning since the late 1980s. In 2013, 28 states reportedly had at least one virtual school, totaling 478 nationwide—researchers, including CIDDL PIs Drs. James Basham and Sean Smith have been engaging in conversations regarding educating students with disabilities in the online environment for years. Since returning to the brick-and-mortar classrooms, stories of schools turning to online learning instead of snow days or coping with the teacher shortage continue to make headlines. Beyond this, online learning provides students with medical challenges and other needs for increased flexibility to participate in K-12 education that they could not afford in different environments.
Implications for Personnel Preparation
To better prepare teachers for educating all students, particularly those with disabilities, in the online environment, personnel preparation programs need to effectively integrate online pedagogy into their programs, including providing pre-service personnel with the opportunity to participate in virtual practicums. The National Standards for Quality Online Teaching also gives programs key characteristics necessary for an effective online teacher. These include outlining the skills related to professional responsibilities, digital pedagogy, community building, learner engagement, digital citizenship, diverse instruction, assessment and measure, and instructional design related to online teaching.
CIDDL previously held an affinity group on the topic in conjunction with CEEDAR. Below are the links to the associated blogs and recordings, including research and faculty resources.
- Preparing Teachers for Hybrid/ Online Learning
- Evolving Roles and Experiences in Virtual Classroom-Implications for Teacher Preparation
- Teaching Methods Part 1 and Part 2
- A Day in the Life of an Elementary Online Teacher
- A Day in the Life of a Secondary Online Teacher
- Virtual Practicum
- Collaboration with Families
Share Your Thoughts
If you're interested in learning more about online learning and the role of personnel preparation, check out CIDDL’s webinar on the topic and join the dedicated group in our community.