<p>Over the last few decades there have been significant shifts in the ways students engage with both formal and informal learning. This has occurred through the improvements made in available technologies, the advent of new technologies and an increased popularity in the use of online learning spaces. Online learning spaces are particularly important for the distance education learning experience and the rise in virtual schools is a reflection of this. These schools and other online learning environments such as blended learning classrooms and School of the Air provide significant learning opportunities to deliver education opportunities to students who might otherwise be unable to pursue particular studies due to a range of factors such as isolation, mobility (such as with military families), health issues, disabilities, lack of qualified teachers in the area or emotional issues such as bullying (Roblyer, 2006; Toppin & Toppin, 2015; Vasquez & Straub, 2012).
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As these changes in teaching and learning environments occur, it becomes increasingly important to reflect these new changes in teacher education courses. Teaching online presents the need for its own separate skillset in order to provide meaningful and rich learning experiences. This project was designed to support pre-service, as well as inservice, teachers in the development of this skillset.
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The project, named Pre-Service Teachers Online, surveyed current pre-service teachers in 2015 about online teaching and found that they are, in the main, ill-prepared to meet the skill requirements of online teaching. While their teacher education programs assist them to use Information and Communication Technologies in the traditional classroom setting, solely online teaching is neither discussed nor practised. To assist in redressing this gap, the main output of the project is an open access website with a range of resources to foster learning about, and aid in, developing online teaching skills.
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There are three main learning modules on the website (www.pstonline.info) exploring connecting with students and the provision of engaging and authentic learning experiences. The modules include short, informative videos from academics experienced in online teaching and its requirements. The videos are supplemented with a number of relevant readings and, where practicable, examples of applications that can be used to enhance online learning experiences.
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This final project report provides an overview of the processes used to develop the website and also, in the appendices, examples of the surveys used which may benefit other institutions interested in replicating the project. There is also a more detailed report of the findings from these surveys.</p>