Voices from the Field: Lessons for K-12 Remote Teaching from Experienced Online Learning Practitioners

Michael K. Barbour*, Vaughn Wilson E.**
* Touro University, California, United States.
** University of the Cumberlands, Kentucky, United States.
Periodicity:April - June'2024
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.19.4.20851

Abstract

This paper analyzes interviews with 27 K-12 distance/online learning experts conducted during the early COVID-19 pandemic, as schools rapidly transitioned to emergency remote instruction. Short video interviews gathered insights from veteran online teachers, school leaders, officials, and scholars on effective remote practices and supporting home learning. Five key themes emerged from qualitative analysis of the transcripts: leveraging synchronous learning for engagement, community, and social-emotional needs; building personal connections among teachers, students, and parents; using technology simply and purposefully; individualizing learning experiences; and distinguishing emergency remote teaching from well-designed online learning. Findings highlighted the value of synchronous interaction, simplicity in technology use, personalized instruction, and managing expectations around crisis teaching limitations compared to systematic online programs. This study offers practitioner perspectives on quality K-12 online education amid emergency circumstances.

Keywords

Emergency Remote Learning, K-12 Remote Learning, K-12 Online Learning, Pandemic Pedagogy, Teacher Practices.

How to Cite this Article?

Barbour, M. K., and Wilson, E. V. (2024). Voices from the Field: Lessons for K-12 Remote Teaching from Experienced Online Learning Practitioners. i-manager’s Journal on School Educational Technology, 19(4), 12-23. https://doi.org/10.26634/jsch.19.4.20851

References

[2]. Archambault, L., Kennedy, K., Shelton, C., Dalal, M., McAllister, L., & Huyett, S. (2016). Incremental progress: Re-examining field experiences in K-12 online learning contexts in the United States. Journal of Online Learning Research, 2(3), 303-326.
[3]. Archibald, D., Barbour, M. K., Leary, H., Wilson, E. V., & Ostashewski, N. (2020). Teacher Education and K-12 Online Learning. State of the Nation: K–12 eLearning in Canada (pp. 1-25).
[6]. Barbour, M. K., Ferdig, R. E., Baumgartner, E., Hartshorne, R., Kaplan-Rakowski, R., & Mouza, C. (2020). 5 minutes on K-12 online learning with...-Advice from experts to teachers in the field. In R. E. Ferdig, E. Baumgartner, R. Hartshorne, R. Kaplan-Rakowski, & C. Mouza (Eds.), Teaching, Technology, and Teacher Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stories from the Field (pp. 511-513). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
[7]. Barbour, M. K. (2022b). 5 minutes on K-12 online learning with… A re-boot for educational leaders. In E. Baumgartner, R. Kaplan-Rakowski, R. E. Ferdig, R. Hartshorne, & C. Mouza (Eds.). A Retrospective of Teaching, Technology, and Teacher Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic (pp. 65-70). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
[9]. Barbour, M. K., & Unger, K. L. (2014). Strategies for overcoming common obstacles in the online environment: Issues in virtual school teaching. In A. A. Piña & A. P. Mizell (Eds.), Real Life Distance Education: Case Studies in Practice (pp. 21-40). Information Age Publishing.
[10]. Barbour, M. K., LaBonte, R., Hodges, C. B., Moore, S., Lockee, B. B., Trust, T., ... & Kelly, K. (2020). Understanding Pandemic Pedagogy: Differences between Emergency Remote, Remote, and Online Teaching. Canadian eLearning Network.
[12]. Borup, J., West, R. E., Graham, C. R., & Davies, R. S. (2014). The adolescent community of engagement framework: A lens for research on K-12 online learning. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 22(1), 107-129.
[13]. Davis, N., Demiraslan, Y., & Wortmann, K. (2007). Preparing to support online learning in K-12. In a presentation at the Iowa Educational Technology Conference, 11, 2008.
[14]. Davis, N., Niederhauser, D., Compton, L., Lindstrom, D., & Schoeny, Z. (2005). Virtual schooling lab practice: Case studies for teacher preparation. In Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 342-345). Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
[16]. Ferdig, R. E., & Kennedy, K. (2014). Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning (pp. 1- 516). ETC Press.
[18]. Halverson, R., & Smith, A. (2009). How new technologies have (and have not) changed teaching and learning in schools. Journal of computing in Teacher Education, 26(2), 49-54.
[20]. Hodges, C. B., Moore, S., Lockee, B. B., Trust, T., & Bond, M. A. (2020). The Difference between Emergency Remote Teaching and Online Learning. Educause Review.
[21]. Hu, M., Arnesen, K., Barbour, M. K., & Leary, H. (2019). A newcomer's lens: A look at K-12 online and blended learning in the Journal of Online Learning Research. Journal of Online Learning Research, 5(2), 123- 144.
[23]. Kennedy, K., & Ferdig, R. E. (2018). Handbook of Research of K12 Online and Blended Learning. Entertainment Technology Center Press, Carnegie Mellon.
[24]. LeCompte, M. D., & Preissle, J. (1993). Ethnography and Qualitative Design in Educational Research. Academic Press.
[26]. Means, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R., Bakia, M., & Jones, K. (2009). Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-Analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies. Centre for Learning Technology.
[30]. Roblyer, M. D., & Davis, L. (2008). Predicting success for virtual school students: Putting research-based models into practice. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 11(4), 1-9.
[31]. Ruona, W. E. A. (2005). Analyzing qualitative data. In R. A. Swanson, & E. F. Holdton (Eds.), Research in Organizations: Foundations and Methods in Inquiry (pp. 233-263). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
[32]. Smith, R., Clark, T., & Blomeyer, R. L. (2005). A Synthesis of New Research on K-12 Online Learning. Learning point associates.
[33]. Trust, T., & Whalen, J. (2020). Should teachers be trained in emergency remote teaching? Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 28(2), 189-199.
[35]. Waters, L. H., & Leong, P. (2014). Who is teaching? New roles for teachers and parents in cyber charter schools. Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, 22(1), 33-56.
[36]. Watts, L. (2016). Synchronous and asynchronous communication in distance learning: A review of the literature. Quarterly Review of Distance Education, 17(1), 23-32.
If you have access to this article please login to view the article or kindly login to purchase the article

Purchase Instant Access

Single Article

North Americas,UK,
Middle East,Europe
India Rest of world
USD EUR INR USD-ROW
Pdf 35 35 200 20
Online 35 35 200 15
Pdf & Online 35 35 400 25

Options for accessing this content:
  • If you would like institutional access to this content, please recommend the title to your librarian.
    Library Recommendation Form
  • If you already have i-manager's user account: Login above and proceed to purchase the article.
  • New Users: Please register, then proceed to purchase the article.