Investigating the Status of Virtual Courses of Educator's In-Service Training (A Case Study: Educators of Dehloran Area)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the virtual courses of educators’ in-service training. This research adopted a descriptive approach to conduct the study using survey method. Its statistical population consisted of 881 teachers in Dehloran in 2014. Using the stratified sampling, the sample size was determined as 267 persons by Morgan and Krejcie table, of whom 134 were men and 133 were women who answered the researcher-made questionnaire being prepared based on theoretical foundations of the study as well as previous studies. Face and content validities of the questionnaire were also confirmed using the ideas of a number of experts and specialists of virtual training courses, and the questionnaire reliability was estimated as 0.88 using Chronbach's alpha coefficient. The Kolmogorov Smirnov and Binominal (proportions) tests were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the lack of provision of necessary infrastructures and facilities for virtual training courses effectiveness and lack of the virtual training courses effectiveness compared to attending courses sit among the challenges. Moreover, educational courses compatible with the needs of educators and acquisition of necessary skills for effective use of in-service virtual training courses can be seen as opportunities.