Monash Virtual School: Preparing Pre-Service Teachers to Teach Online: A Scoping Review of Skills, Knowledge, Identities, Values and Epistemological Development

"Monash Virtual School: Preparing pre-service teachers to teach online" is a comprehensive scoping review focusing on the skills, knowledge, identities, values, and epistemological development required for pre-service teachers (PSTs) in online teaching contexts. It outlines the evolving landscape of online education, particularly in K-12 settings, and the increasing need for effectively prepared online educators.

The review addresses the current status of pre-service teacher preparation for online learning, highlighting a significant gap between the growing demand for online education and the preparation of teachers for this modality. It examines the complexity of preparing teachers for online settings, delving into aspects like teacher decision-making, knowledge, skills, practices, epistemologies, and orientations. The review heavily utilises Epistemic Frame Theory to understand teachers' decision-making processes.

In response to these challenges, the Monash Virtual School (MVS) model is presented, detailing the design and delivery of a K-12 online teacher professional learning program. This model integrates theoretical foundations like Epistemic Frame Theory and Constructivism, focusing on technological proficiency, pedagogical strategies for online learning, assessment and feedback methods, collaborative learning communities, reflective practice, practical experience, and continuous professional development. These components are designed to prepare PSTs comprehensively for the unique challenges of online education, equipping them with a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical skills, reflective practices, and continuous development.

The document concludes by emphasising the importance of these elements in crafting the competencies of PSTs to meet the unique challenges of the dynamic environment of online education. It underlines the integration of Epistemic Frame Theory in developing a holistic set of skills and attributes essential for effective online teaching.