Virtual Classroom Management: An Analysis of Virtual Classroom Management Dynamics and Strategies of Teachers

Abstract

Digital learning platforms and virtual classrooms are growing more widespread, so virtual classroom management is gaining more importance to ensure student engagement, involvement, and achievements in an online learning environment. The research examines virtual classroom management dynamics and explores the factors that render teachers' virtual classroom management practices, strategies, and expectations in this regard. The study is a phenomenological research, and data was collected through open-ended questions with 22 lower secondary school teachers working in Istanbul. The findings were gathered under four themes: virtual classroom management process, professional development, opportunities and challenges of virtual classrooms, and solutions to virtual classroom management problems. These results highlight the significance of engagement and motivation toward virtual classrooms and propound teachers' digital competencies and classroom management skills as two fundamental factors in fostering students' engagement in virtual classrooms.