Virtual schooling : a closer look from the inside of an Indiana charter virtual school examining the teachers' perceptions of the characteristics of its teachers and students

摘要

The focus of this research is in the area of virtual schooling at the K-12 level, specifically looking into teachers’ perceptions of important traits of teacher effectiveness and student progress in this online learning environment. Such a study is important in Indiana, as this is the first time in public school history when there is now a new choice for students to attend a school such as this. The research is a mixed methods approach utilizing surveys and interviews to gather data. The findings from this research indicate several teacher characteristics are important. Teachers should be communicative, responsive, and manage their time well. Student characteristics considered important are access to computer and Internet, strong support from their family or learning coach, and effective time management skills. A top recommendation emerging from this study is the development of a screener for parents to take before enrollment to determine whether this type of learning environment would be the best fit for their student(s)/child, based on the important student characteristics. Other recommendations emerging from this study included professional development, especially in the areas of technology and communication for the school’s teachers and the relationship with between colleges and universities that prepare teachers that would lead to development of specific training and lab experience in a virtual setting.