Finding Our Way: Better Understanding the Needs and Motivations of Teachers in Online Learning

Research among K-12 educators participating in 6-week online professional development modules of study provides insight into their needs and motivations. 324 educators participated in this research through focus groups and an online survey. The most telling findings indicate four themes regarding teacher online professional development: learner expectations, learner support and access, incentives, and content. Overall, this project illuminates issues that we face in formal education online learning environments as we continue to discover how to best serve educators’ learning needs