Spotlight: The rise of online initial teacher education: what do we know?

Online study in higher education is growing at a rapid pace in Australia. This is particularly the case for initial teacher education (ITE). The past decade has seen a dramatic rise in the numbers of ITE students choosing to prepare themselves for teaching by enrolling away from campus. Despite this growing trend, little is known about online ITE in Australia, particularly with regard to who studies it, where they live, what influence it has on outcomes and graduate quality, and what quality assurance mechanisms are in place to support quality delivery.