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Learning, Design, and Technology pp 1–17Cite as

What Motivates Exemplary Online Teachers? A Multiple-Case Study

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Abstract

Teachers’ embracing of online teaching is a key factor in the growth of online education. While it is critical to examine exemplary online teachers’ practices to present models for successful online teaching, limited research exists on why exemplary teachers decide to teach online. In order to identify strategies for supporting online teachers, a multiple case study was conducted in the context of a large research university in the Midwestern United States. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with six online teachers identified as exemplary. Results suggested that both intrinsic factors (e.g., observing exemplary courses, having a background in distance education, answering the needs of nontraditional students, and trying alternative approaches to online teaching) and extrinsic factors (e.g., technology, pedagogy, professional development, and financial support) influenced exemplary online teachers’ decisions to teach online. The results of this study reveal critical recommendations for faculty support and development for online teaching.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

    Evrim Baran

  2. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Ana-Paula Correia

Authors
  1. Evrim Baran
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  2. Ana-Paula Correia
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Correspondence to Evrim Baran .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Info, Ste G150, Univ of North Texas, Denton, Texas, USA

    Michael J Spector

  2. School of Education, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Barbara B Lockee

  3. School of Education, Baker University, Overland Park, Kansas, USA

    Marcus D. Childress

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© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

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Baran, E., Correia, AP. (2017). What Motivates Exemplary Online Teachers? A Multiple-Case Study. In: Spector, M., Lockee, B., Childress, M. (eds) Learning, Design, and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_33-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_33-2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17727-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17727-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    What Motivates Exemplary Online Teachers? A Multiple-Case Study
    Published:
    02 February 2017

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_33-2

  2. Original

    What Motivates Exemplary Online Teachers? A Multiple-Case Study
    Published:
    21 December 2016

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_33-1

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