Exploring the Teacher Side Hustle: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Online Teacherpreneurship

• In Event: 31.087 - Exploring Professional Communities

Abstract

Online teacherpreneurship occurs when P-12 teachers share resources through online educational marketplaces such as TeachersPayTeachers.com, for financial gain. Using a sequential mixed methods design, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with online teacherpreneurs who represented the top 1% of sellers on TeachersPayTeachers.com. Then interview findings were used to develop a quantitative survey, completed by 412 mainstream TeachersPayTeachers.com sellers. Results indicated that online teacherpreneurs viewed themselves as helpful, hard-working, creative, and organized. Some online teacherpreneurs worked in supportive schools, while others worked in unsupportive or ambivalent schools. Online teacherpreneurship involved creating educational resources, collaborating with teachers and teacherpreneurs, and entrepreneurship. Online teacherpreneurs experienced improved teaching practice, teacher leadership opportunities, and some professional stressors. Implications for online teacherpreneurs and stakeholders are considered.

Authors

• Catharyn Crane Shelton, California State University - Stanislaus

• Leanna Matchett Archambault, Arizona State University