Description
Online instruction is rapidly expanding the way administrators and educators think about and plan instruction. In addition, due to a pandemic, online instructional practices and learning in a virtual environment are being implemented with very little training or support. Educators are learning new tools and strategies at a quick pace, and often on their own, even through resistance. It is important to explore lessons learned through the pandemic but also of importance is sharing the virtual classroom options and instruction that align to best practices when transitioning to online instruction. Sharing these will allow educators to understand and learn that virtual instruction can benefit all, even when not used out of need, and can enhance face-to-face courses in many ways.
The Handbook of Research on Lessons Learned From Transitioning to Virtual Classrooms During a Pandemic is a critical reference that presents lessons instructors have learned throughout the COVID-19 pandemic including what programs and tools were found to be the most impactful and useful and how to effectively embed virtual teaching into face-to-face teaching. With difficult choices to be made and implemented, this topic and collection of writings demonstrates the learning curve in a state of survival and also lessons and resources learned that will be useful when moving back to face-to-face instruction as a tool to continue to use. Highlighted topics include the frustrations faced during the transition, lessons learned from a variety of viewpoints, resources found and used to support instruction, online learner perspectives and thoughts, online course content, and best practices in transitioning to online instruction. This book is ideal for teachers, principals, school leaders, instructional designers, curriculum developers, higher education professors, pre-service teachers, in-service teachers, practitioners, researchers, and anyone interested in developing more effective virtual and in-classroom teaching methods.
Author's/Editor's Biography
Amy Thornburg (Ed.)
Amy Wooten Thornburg
is the Associate Dean of and Professor in the Cato School of Education at Queens University of Charlotte. She is also the Coordinator of the Elementary Education Program and oversees Assessment and Accreditation. Dr. Thornburg’s areas of expertise include literacy instruction, student motivation, working with at-risk students, beginning teacher success, professional development, and teacher retention.
Dixie Abernathy (Ed.)
Dixie F. Abernathy
is Associate Professor of Education at Queens University of Charlotte and Coordinator of the Master of Arts in Educational Leadership program in the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School of Education. A 36-year veteran educator, Dr. Abernathy has served as a classroom teacher, an assistant principal at both the elementary and secondary levels, a principal at both the elementary and secondary levels, and as Assistant Superintendent of Elementary and Secondary Schools for the ninth largest school system in North Carolina. During the 1992 school year, Dr. Abernathy was recognized as the North Carolina Teacher of the Year. Dr. Abernathy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Wake Forest University, a Master of Arts in School Administration from Winthrop University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Carolina University. Her research interests include academic freedom and student rights, school violence prevention, school leadership efficacy, and student engagement in online learning.