Let the Teacher-Buyer Beware: What Metrics Predict Expert-Evaluated Quality in TeachersPayTeachers.com Resources

• In Event: Professional Learning and Resources for Teachers in Social Media and Digital Environments

Abstract

This study aimed to identify metrics predicting expert-evaluated quality within a popular online educational marketplace. Experts rated overall quality across TeachersPayTeachers.com’s (TpT) 100 best-selling 11th grade U.S. activities, finding that 30% scored a 3 or 4 (4-point scale). Meanwhile, 100% of these activities were rated a 3 or 4 by buyers. Further analysis showed expert ratings for these best-selling activities were not correlated to other variables such as the number of ratings a resource had or its rank on TpT. However, price and the number of followers were positively correlated with expert ratings, albeit weakly. These findings suggest that teacher-buyers must beware of online marketplace materials. Implications for teacher education and online educational marketplace accountability are discussed.

Authors

• Catharyn Crane Shelton, Northern Arizona University

• Lauren McArthur Harris, Arizona State University

• Leanna Archambault, Arizona State University