scholarly journals Examining Higher Education Instructor Perceptions of Roles and Competencies in Online Teaching

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Martin ◽  
Swapna Kumar ◽  
Liane She
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Lifelong Learner ◽  
Online Instructor

Online instructors adopt various roles and perform various competencies in the design and delivery of online courses. In this study, online instructor roles are categorized into eight types including Subject Matter Expert, Course Designer and Developer, Course Facilitator, Course Manager, Advisor/Mentor, Assessor/Evaluator, Technology Expert, and Lifelong Learner. Through survey-based research with 141 online instructors, this study examines competencies that online instructors perform based on various roles. When rating competencies, overall categorical means for all the roles were rated above 4.00, which showed that they used all these roles. The highest rated items and lowest rated items are discussed in addition to the connection between research and practice in online teaching. Online instructors who participate in training and who collaborate with instructional designers rated the frequency with which they perform the competencies to be higher. This study has implications for online instructors, instructional designers, and administrators who design and deliver online learning and offer professional development for online instructors.

Designing Effective Online Instructor Training and Professional Development

2012 ◽  
pp. 1-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Banas ◽  
Angela Velez-Solic
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Instructor Training ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Effective Training ◽  
Instructional Design Principles ◽  
Online Instructor

There are many ways to deliver engaging, effective, and efficient online instruction, but most higher education instructors do not know how. So while the demand for online learning has drastically increased, the efficacious training of instructors into how to deliver online courses lags far behind. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate how adult learning and instructional design principles, coupled with known best practices for online teaching, can facilitate the design of effective training and professional development for online instructors. Case study examples are used to illustrate key concepts, and a sample outline for training is offered. Administrators and trainers of online instructors will form the primary audience; other stake holders in online education will benefit as well.

Designing Effective Online Instructor Training and Professional Development

2014 ◽  
pp. 732-756
Author(s):  
Jennifer R. Banas ◽  
Angela Velez-Solic
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Instructor Training ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Effective Training ◽  
Instructional Design Principles ◽  
Online Instructor

There are many ways to deliver engaging, effective, and efficient online instruction, but most higher education instructors do not know how. So while the demand for online learning has drastically increased, the efficacious training of instructors into how to deliver online courses lags far behind. In this chapter, the authors demonstrate how adult learning and instructional design principles, coupled with known best practices for online teaching, can facilitate the design of effective training and professional development for online instructors. Case study examples are used to illustrate key concepts, and a sample outline for training is offered. Administrators and trainers of online instructors will form the primary audience; other stake holders in online education will benefit as well.

Planning and Teaching Online Courses

2011 ◽  
pp. 1628-1638
Author(s):  
Riad S. Aisami
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Work Schedule ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Instructional Activities ◽  
Unlimited Access ◽  
Non Traditional Students

Generally, online courses intend to present a non-traditionallearning approach for non-traditional students. Working adults can achieve success in pursuing higher education degrees without compromising their work schedule. Online courses aim to be flexible and convenient while achieving effective instructional results. Online teaching can allow students unlimited access to the course materials and provide them with interactive and engaging instructional activities.

Evolving Practice for Training Online Designers and Instructors

2019 ◽  
pp. 166-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott R. Garrigan
Keyword(s):  
Online Instruction ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Teaching Style ◽  
Single Model ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Student Interests ◽  
Online Instructor

Online courses place greater responsibility and demands on both the instructor and students compared to traditional face-to-face courses. Online instructors and designers are often given checklists of required or best online teaching practices to help them meet the challenge. But these checklists tend to assume that online courses fall into a single model that is independent of course goals and of the unique teaching style and strengths of the online instructor. This chapter presents the author's methods and values in training online instructors and designers. Conventional online instruction model aside, the focus is on helping the instructor and designer identify salient aspects of the course, the students, and the instructor. The chapter presents methods, content, and values that may to be less known, less understood, or difficult to implement for new designers and instructors. Each model builds on elements such as student interests, deep engagement, group collaboration, and practical assessment.

Professional Development with Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) Teaching Online

2012 ◽  
pp. 26-42
Author(s):  
Denice Ward Hood ◽  
Wen-Hao David Huang
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Graduate Teaching Assistants ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Graduate Teaching ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Online Course Development

As the number of online courses offered continues to increase, teaching online will become a standard expectation and responsibility for graduate teaching assistants (TAs). For TAs who will seek faculty positions, experience and self-efficacy teaching online are critical to their future career. The current and future university landscape and the higher education world these TAs will embody will require qualified individuals to be well trained in online course development and delivery. Of equal importance is the quality of teaching TAs provide for the large number of online undergraduate courses for which they have sole responsibility or provide instructional support. Colleges and universities need to develop professional development for TAs that reflects best practices in online teaching and learning and engages TAs in the instructional design as well as delivery process. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the literature on teaching assistant professional development and the implications for TAs teaching online.

Professional Development with Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) Teaching Online

2014 ◽  
pp. 212-228
Author(s):  
Denice Ward Hood ◽  
Wen-Hao David Huang
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Teaching Assistants ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Graduate Teaching Assistants ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Graduate Teaching ◽  
Equal Importance ◽  
Online Course Development

As the number of online courses offered continues to increase, teaching online will become a standard expectation and responsibility for graduate teaching assistants (TAs). For TAs who will seek faculty positions, experience and self-efficacy teaching online are critical to their future career. The current and future university landscape and the higher education world these TAs will embody will require qualified individuals to be well trained in online course development and delivery. Of equal importance is the quality of teaching TAs provide for the large number of online undergraduate courses for which they have sole responsibility or provide instructional support. Colleges and universities need to develop professional development for TAs that reflects best practices in online teaching and learning and engages TAs in the instructional design as well as delivery process. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the literature on teaching assistant professional development and the implications for TAs teaching online.

scholarly journals Examining Faculty Readiness to Teach Online: A Comparison of US and German Educators

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florence Martin ◽  
Chuang Wang ◽  
Annika Jokiaho ◽  
Birgit May ◽  
Sonja Grübmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Faculty Perceptions ◽  
Academic Discipline ◽  
Academic Rank ◽  
Instructional Designers ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
The Us ◽  
Faculty Readiness

Abstract With the increase in the number of online courses being offered, it is important for faculty to be prepared to teach online. In this study, we examine US and German faculty perceptions on their preparedness to teach online based on the perception of importance of teaching online competencies and their efficacy to teach online. We also examine factors (gender, age, country located, academic discipline, academic rank, method of teaching, years of teaching, years of teaching online and level taught) that are related to US and German faculty perception of the importance and efficacy of online teaching. Overall, the US faculty rated the competencies higher compared to the German faculty both in perception of importance and self-efficacy. Significant differences in the perception of the importance of competencies were noted based on gender, training, level taught, rank, and age. For self-efficacy, there were significant differences between the faculty in teaching format (synchronous, asynchronous or hybrid format), years of teaching online, and age. This study has implications for instructors who teach online, for instructional designers who offer professional development for online teaching and for administrators who support online learning at the universities.

Teaching Online Courses

2011 ◽  
pp. 1777-1786
Author(s):  
Riad S. Aisami
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Traditional Learning ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
Unlimited Access ◽  
Non Traditional Students

Online courses intend to present a non-traditional learning approach that accommodates non-traditional students. Working adults can achieve success in pursuing higher education degrees without compromising their work schedule. Online courses are flexible and convenient. Online teaching allows students unlimited access to the course materials and provides them with interactive and engaging instructional activities.

scholarly journals Online Continuing Professional Development: An integrative approach

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Risquez ◽  
Dara Cassidy ◽  
Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin ◽  
Roisin Garvey ◽  
Sinead Spain
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Professional Development ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Continuing Professional Development ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Design Development ◽  
Teaching Online ◽  
Practice Approach ◽  
Survey Results ◽  
Very High

This paper reports on the design, development, delivery and evaluation of an online continuing professional development (CPD) course in the area of online teaching by three Irish Higher Education Institutes (HEIs). The course was developed in the context of a nationally coordinated effort to promote CPD of those that teach in Higher Education through digital badges. Survey results suggest a very high overall satisfaction rate with the course as a whole, increased levels of knowledge and confidence in relation to teaching online, and also intended transference to practice. While the external motivator of demonstrating engagement through the digital badge arose in the surveys and focus groups, it did not feature particularly strongly. Implications for CPD are discussed in relation to internal and external drivers and motivations around CPD for higher education teachers, and the need for opportunities for participants to interact and engage in the manner reminiscent of a community of practice approach.

scholarly journals Professional Development for Online Teaching: A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Leary ◽  
Cade Dopp ◽  
Chad Turley ◽  
Matthew Cheney ◽  
Zach Simmons ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Development Programs ◽  
Online Instructors ◽  
Institutional Settings ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Professional Development Programs

The growth of online learning has created a need for instructors who can competently teach online. This literature review explores the research questions, program recommendations, and future research suggestions related to professional development for online instructors. Articles were selected and coded based on date of publication and the context of the professional development. Results indicate that most research questions focused on (a) professional development programs, (b) instructors, and (c) instructors’ online courses. Most program recommendations focused on (a) professional development programs, (b) context of professional development, and (c) instructors’ activity during professional development. Future recommendations for research topics focused on professional development programs and instructors, while future recommendations for research methods focused on research design and institutional settings. The findings suggest that while professional development for online instructors is important, consistency in both design and delivery is lacking. Future research is needed to provide guidance to programs, instructors, and institutions leading to satisfaction and success for more online students.

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