5.4 Online teacher-training use behaviour
5.4.3 Benefits of online teacher training
Teachers do not have to move or travel long distances to attend courses or training.
The courses or training are available at their fingertips, while the conventional form of professional development is restricted by factors such as time and place. The participants have to move to a physical place at given time to attend such trainings. Thus, time is saved and can be invested in other activities.
“The training can be delivered online instead of going to ICJM.”(P11)
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(ICJM stands for Institut Cardinal Jean Margéot, an institution where teachers in Catholic schools can follow some kind of professional development courses.)
Online learning is viewed as a solution for situations where teachers are shy or afraid to express themselves for fear of judgement from their peers or even the school administration.
“May be also, the fact that … we don't consider the fact that many teachers don't describe what takes place in the class for fear of being judged, not being understood.”
(P13)
“A teacher wanting to have a solution to a problem that happened in a class can become a gossip when explaining this problem in a teacher-training programme.” (P11) A participant stated that he prefers self-learning where he can learn at any time. He does not have to go to a class.
“We get all online, can do it when you want.” (P35)
“I do not need to go in a specific place, I connect to the internet, I get all the information, I learn by myself, I love this way of learning, I do not like the situation where you go and sit in a class.” (P31)
A forum is proposed as a solution, for teachers to have a space to express their opinions freely without being judged. That is why PD is a challenge.
“PD has become an issue. Even if these teachers have professional development, they prefer not to go forward may be ... when it is online this situation may change.” (P11)
“With regard to what we are saying it is interesting enough. We need a forum where we can express what we think ... a forum is a group discussion where people are free to talk and say what they think online. It can be a super forum as it can be constructive.
We can give our point of view to be able to move forward.” (P14)
The forum is also viewed as psychological support, where members can support one another.
“Me, I find it more as a psychological support when we reach an agreement … online.”
(P14)
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Teachers have a busy time schedule in the sense that they have their workload, have to follow professional development courses and manage their family lives. So they have to manage their time effectively so that none of their commitments are neglected.
“I manage my time at will.” (P14)
“In a situation where you have children, it is more adapted go online when you want, when you finish doing your household tasks.”(P32)
A teacher shared her experiences with online training and stated that she benefited from this type of learning. She has been able to be in contact with experiences of foreign teachers.
“Finally I also agree. Already there is the fact that you can save time, you do not have to move, but also online is not restricted to Mauritius, because I have been able to do online courses with universities mostly in America; but I have seen that you can get into contact with other people abroad and can share their knowledge as I did here last year. This year I am doing an exchange programme with students from America. Next time, I’ll be sharing with those from Norway and if I can get in touch with Mauritian students, the online courses for teachers can make participants more professional in their work, because they get these exchanges as I did. I was very lucky, you see, I saw how courses abroad function. They do not focus only on their own country but worldwide. I think it is important for us in Mauritius to follow these examples as if not only Mauritians are teaching.” (P34)
She argued that it was the best course she has followed in the past eight years as she managed to get foreign experiences locally. She made it clear that the content was more important than physical human contact. Moreover, using technology may help teachers to improve their professional practices through exchange, adapt new or existing teaching and learning strategies to meet needs of learners who are familiar with social media. Thus, teachers would feel more confident in using new technology.
“In eight years, it is one of the best courses I have followed. It was of short duration but when I compare it with others which were not worth much. I really loved it as I found it so enriching even if there was no physical contact.” (P34)
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The participants made it clear that in the traditional mode it is very difficult to have foreign teachers sharing their experiences with local teachers in the same physical location, whereas in an online environment this happens.
“It is difficult to arrive at a time where all people meet in only one physical place, sitting, so contact….” (P33)
“On the internet it is easy.” (P31)
“In a conventional classroom setting you will never be able to have teachers from different countries discussing an issue simultaneously but online it can be done.” (P33) The teacher claimed that even in Mauritius it is difficult to meet physically to share their practices, as teachers prefer to invest their time in other activities.
“Even in Mauritius if participants come from different schools it is difficult to meet for an open sharing of opinions at a given time.” (P33)
These benefits of OPD influence teachers’ use behaviour of such system. Teachers can access foreign resources locally (can be at home) which is very difficult in face-to-face approach. But this can be achieved if the facilitating conditions are available.