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Aurora Institute

Report

Going Virtual! Unique Needs and Challenges of K-12 Online Teachers

Author(s): Chris Florez, Crystal Gasell, Kerry Rice, Lisa Dawley

Organization(s): Boise State University, iNACOL

Issue(s): Issues in Practice, How to Get Started, Learn Lessons from the Field

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The findings in this report represent Phase II of the Going Virtual! research series. In this report, we posed the question, “What are the unique needs and challenges of K‐12 online teachers?” The first phase of the Going Virtual! research series, conducted in 2007, investigated the national status of professional development for K‐12 online teachers.

Investigators in this study used an interpretive research design to identify the unique needs and challenges of K-12 online teachers. The findings provide practical information for policymakers to establish national and state standards for K-12 online teachers, as well as for trainers designing professional development programs.

Study this report to gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs and challenges of K-12 online teachers, as expressed by the teachers themselves.