A case study of teachers, the internet, and professional practice

This qualitative study explores the day-to-day classroom work of five West Virginia K-12 RuralNet Project teachers, highlighting the drama of integrating technology into learning and showing how these teachers build and refine relationships to foster their sense of professionalism, through the use of technology. This study shows how teachers use the Internet as and instructional resource and as a tool for connecting to other people within and outside of the learning community. The participants of this study began to learn new technology skills during the summer of 1995. Today they are integrating Internet technology into their daily teaching and planning of lessons. This study provides insight into the advantages and tradeoffs associated with using technology to support instruction to build a functional education community and to enhance the teaching profession.