Online Professional Development Opportunities: Virtual Conferencing during a Pandemic

This descriptive study provides an overview of research-based benefits and challenges of attending online conferences, in addition to participant feedback data from one online education conference conducted in February 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is grounded in adult learning theory. The purpose of this study was to explore conference participant perceptions (n = 51) of their learning at this virtual education conference with the goal of contributing to future best practices in online professional learning experiences. Post-conference survey data indicated that 98% of participants reported that the sessions were of high quality and the presenters were prepared. However, there were statistically significantly (p = 0.043) more participants who enjoyed face-to-face conferences compared with online conferences. Additionally, over 90% of participants agreed that the content from the conference would benefit their students and improve their own research practice. Recommendations for facilitating effective online conferences include: 1) Organize and communicate consistently and with clarity; 2) Utilize technological platforms that are familiar to participants; 3) Consider the sociopolitical context in which the conference occurs. This research can inform virtual conference organizers in effective planning and facilitating of online professional development experiences that align with adult learning theory components.