Communication technology allows teachers to conduct distance learning courses online for nearly every subject imaginable. An increasingly higher level of connectivity provided by mobile devices such as PDAs and laptops keeps both teachers and students connected to one another and a wealth of resources, no matter where they are located physically. Teachers can also continue with their regular teaching jobs while taking a continuing education class to further their own career.
A master's or doctorate degree, or advanced certification, guarantees teachers a higher salary. However, many teachers never pursue this because they cannot afford to leave their current jobs. Online continuing education allows them to achieve those goals in a way that fits their schedule. Distance learning also opens up more job opportunities for teachers, particularly those who are unable to travel to and from school every day due to illness, injury or other special circumstances.
Training to teach an online continuing education course requires more study of technology than regular teacher training. However, most schools and organizations that offer distance learning courses also employ a team whose job is to maintain the website and deal with any technical or communication issues. Online continuing education teachers still focus on management, planning lessons and assessment. However, all of these things are studied with the idea of integrating the appropriate technology. Grade books are managed online. Lessons may include multimedia such as video and audio, making learning interactive.
Teachers involved in online continuing education courses will use a different set of tools than those used in the traditional classroom, but with the same intention. Common technologies used in distance learning include computers and mobile devices, telephones, audio and video conferencing, podcasts, email, chat and broadcast video.
With the latest technology and an online setting, teachers have the opportunity to foster a more constructivist way of thinking, in themselves and their students. The book "Constructing on Constructivism: The Role of Technology" by Aloka Nanjappa and Michael M. Grant states that a case studied showed "as the amount of technology available, the level of technology skills of the teachers, and the use of technology increased, the use of constructivist strategies in the classroom also appeared to increase."