Interrogating How Teachers Search for, Decide to Download, and Review Online Educational Resource Marketplace Materials

• In Event: Interplay of Advanced Computer Applications in Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Online education resource marketplaces (OERMs) are popular sources of curricular support, but their resources are of inconsistent/low quality. This study interrogates how teachers search for, decide to download, and review resources from the popular OERM TeachersPayTeachers.com (TPT). 1,359 TPT-using PK-12 educators were surveyed. Participants reported using TPT in concert with social media. Before downloading, participants most often considered price, buyer feedback, and editability of resources; even though evidence suggests TPT buyer feedback is unreliable. Participants focused less on seller characteristics, such as the number of followers the sellers had or their geographical location; even though these are useful vetting indicators. Finally, reviewing and reporting material was uncommon, suggesting this OERM feature is not realized to its potential.

Authors

• Catharyn Crane Shelton, Northern Arizona University

• Jeffrey P. Carpenter, Elon University