How Should We Develop Primary Teachers in Online Classrooms? Correlation Between Teaching Methods, Teaching Motivation, Educational Background and Teaching Experience

Abstract

Purpose: This research aimed to improve the teaching quality of online classrooms and further enhance the performance of primary school teachers in online classrooms. Method: A survey was conducted on the teaching methods, teaching motivation, educational background, and teaching experience with a sample of 515 primary school teachers in online classrooms in China. Correlation analysis (Spearman's correlation coefficient) was used as the analysis process. Findings: (1) Teaching experience and educational background are positively correlated with most teaching methods. Some correlations are reflected in the use of teaching methods, while others are reflected in the mastery of teaching methods; (2) Teaching experience and educational background are positively correlated with most aspects of teaching motivation, focusing on competence and autonomy. But no positive correlation was found between educational background & teaching experience, respectively, and relatedness; (3) There is a strong positive correlation between teaching methods and teaching motivation, mainly focusing on competence and autonomy, while they don’t have positive correlation in terms of relatedness. Implications for Research and practice: This study links educational psychology and teaching by studying teaching motivation and teaching methods, verifying the interrelationships among various dimensions of teachers in online classrooms, which has value and significance for subsequent research. The study recommends the improvement of teachers' educational background and teaching experience meaningfully, which will help them improve their teaching methods and teaching motivation in online classrooms.