The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange
Advances in educational technology, including videoconferencing, have resulted in a rise in virtual exchange (VE). Researchers have touted the benefits of conducting VEs including developing learners’ intercultural awareness, intercultural competence, and digital skills (O’Dowd, 2018). Few studies h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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University of Groningen Press
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Virtual Exchange |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.unicollaboration.org/article/view/41576 |
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| author | Ciara R. Wigham Begoña Clavel-Arroitia |
| author_facet | Ciara R. Wigham Begoña Clavel-Arroitia |
| author_sort | Ciara R. Wigham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Advances in educational technology, including videoconferencing, have resulted in a rise in virtual exchange (VE). Researchers have touted the benefits of conducting VEs including developing learners’ intercultural awareness, intercultural competence, and digital skills (O’Dowd, 2018). Few studies have been conducted in secondary and primary school settings, however. To fill this gap, an online questionnaire was administered, and subsequent focus group interviews were conducted with primary and secondary teachers to understand their needs and the challenges which impact their ability to conduct VE projects. The findings of our needs analysis show that the majority of primary teachers reported a lack of technological training, including which tools and/or applications best support VEs, while secondary teachers reported lacking both technological and pedagogical training for VEs, such as how to integrate VE tasks into their curricula. To accommodate these needs and challenges, we advocate for a training space which provides experienced and novice teachers the opportunity to discuss VE in their teaching contexts and training materials to assist in designing, implementing, or adapting VE tasks. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3a7e9f6ceb164308a33b7518ee8a7ab2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2647-4832 |
| language | deu |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | University of Groningen Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Virtual Exchange |
| spelling | doaj-art-3a7e9f6ceb164308a33b7518ee8a7ab22025-08-20T03:28:21ZdeuUniversity of Groningen PressJournal of Virtual Exchange2647-48322025-07-018133810.21827/jve.8.4157631242The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchangeCiara R. Wigham0Begoña Clavel-Arroitia1Université Clermont AuvergneUniversity of ValenciaAdvances in educational technology, including videoconferencing, have resulted in a rise in virtual exchange (VE). Researchers have touted the benefits of conducting VEs including developing learners’ intercultural awareness, intercultural competence, and digital skills (O’Dowd, 2018). Few studies have been conducted in secondary and primary school settings, however. To fill this gap, an online questionnaire was administered, and subsequent focus group interviews were conducted with primary and secondary teachers to understand their needs and the challenges which impact their ability to conduct VE projects. The findings of our needs analysis show that the majority of primary teachers reported a lack of technological training, including which tools and/or applications best support VEs, while secondary teachers reported lacking both technological and pedagogical training for VEs, such as how to integrate VE tasks into their curricula. To accommodate these needs and challenges, we advocate for a training space which provides experienced and novice teachers the opportunity to discuss VE in their teaching contexts and training materials to assist in designing, implementing, or adapting VE tasks.https://journal.unicollaboration.org/article/view/41576primary and secondary teachersvirtual exchangetraining needstraining preferences |
| spellingShingle | Ciara R. Wigham Begoña Clavel-Arroitia The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange Journal of Virtual Exchange primary and secondary teachers virtual exchange training needs training preferences |
| title | The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| title_full | The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| title_fullStr | The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| title_full_unstemmed | The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| title_short | The training needs of primary and secondary in-service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| title_sort | training needs of primary and secondary in service school teachers engaging in virtual exchange |
| topic | primary and secondary teachers virtual exchange training needs training preferences |
| url | https://journal.unicollaboration.org/article/view/41576 |
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