Preparing and Training Higher Education Faculty to Ensure Quality Online Learning and Teaching

Author(s):  
Ben Seipel ◽  
Chiara Francesca Ferrari

In this chapter, the authors discuss the nature of quality online instruction from the perspectives of equity, quality preparation, professional development, and evaluation. Specifically, the authors describe the need for faculty preparation in pedagogical and andragogical practices in general by defining “quality” and qualified professionals. The authors provide initial support for instructors by describing the lesson planning cycle as a useful framework. The authors also delve into the importance of considering one's personal teaching philosophy as a grounding for quality instruction. Then, the authors apply these concepts to online andragogy and the need for continuing professional development opportunities. Next, the authors describe three evaluation tools/opportunities, rubric for online instruction, the quality online learning and teaching instrument, and quality matters, that have been useful to faculty at their institution. Finally, the authors conclude with future research directions regarding quality online instruction.

Author(s):  
Ben Seipel ◽  
Chiara Francesca Ferrari

In this chapter, the authors discuss the nature of quality online instruction from the perspectives of equity, quality preparation, professional development, and evaluation. Specifically, the authors describe the need for faculty preparation in pedagogical and andragogical practices in general by defining “quality” and qualified professionals. The authors provide initial support for instructors by describing the lesson planning cycle as a useful framework. The authors also delve into the importance of considering one's personal teaching philosophy as a grounding for quality instruction. Then, the authors apply these concepts to online andragogy and the need for continuing professional development opportunities. Next, the authors describe three evaluation tools/opportunities, rubric for online instruction, the quality online learning and teaching instrument, and quality matters, that have been useful to faculty at their institution. Finally, the authors conclude with future research directions regarding quality online instruction.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Stavroula Sant-Geronikolou

Purpose – As, under the new educational, communicational and technological paradigms, Library and Information Science curricula reconceptualization is gaining momentum, this opinion paper should be seen as a theoretical contribution to current thinking around South European formal education and Continuing Professional Development potential to effectively addressing the New Academic Library challenges.Design/methodology/findings - Building on context-specific case studies and previous international research focusing the investigation of the necessity to reshape official undergraduate programs and academic librarian career-long learning opportunities, our paper discusses whether and how an open flexible synergistic approach could be an ideal solution to current scenario pain points. Besides offering a brief but comprehensive review of the topic, it further proposes a set of future research studies that may result foundational to change within the librarian community by helping unpack the complexities of an ecosystem still in search of its identity.


Author(s):  
Iain Doherty

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the challenges of achieving systemic change in the teaching culture of a research-intensive university. The chapter makes use of a teaching improvement case study to identify both the challenges and the solutions to engaging academics in a research-intensive university with educational professional development. Ongoing issues are identified and future research directions are presented.


Author(s):  
Maria Northcote

The field of online learning, like many other technological innovations, has not burgeoned without controversy. Despite the debates about the role and value of online learning, it has continued to grow in many sectors, especially in higher education. Alongside the growth of online learning, discussions about its benefits and limitations have also flourished, and many studies have investigated the quality and integrity of online courses. This chapter offers an investigation of some of the history of online learning, concluding with a collection of practical recommendations and suggestions for future research directions to guide institutions embarking on online learning programs.


Author(s):  
Hatice Sancar-Tokmak

Teachers are the main foundations of the education system, and their professional development during their working life is vital in ensuring the success of any attempts to change that system. It is for this reason that in-service training is high on the agenda of most countries, although previous studies have shown that teachers are unable to transfer the knowledge they gain through in-service training to in-class activities, as more long-lasting help is required. One way in which teachers can be provided help in this regard is through the use of technology in line with a strong instructional design theory. This chapter aims to address this issue by showing how videos can be used in the professional development of teachers as part of an expertise-based training (XBT) program. The chapter is compiled in seven main parts: 1) Introduction 2) Background 3) Main Focus of the Chapter 5) Solutions and Recommendations 6) Future Research Directions, and finally, 7) Conclusions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Lygo-Baker ◽  
Stylianos Hatzipanagos

Portfolios have been used for assessment in higher education as an alternative to exams and assignments. E-portfolios offer staff a digital technology that can be both a personalised learning space, owned and controlled by the learner, and a presentation tool which can be used for formal assessment purposes. However, this can result in a tension between process and product, where e-portfolios become electronic repositories of resources that simply tick boxes for career progression. The paper reports on a project that investigated the use of e-portfolios by teaching practitioners developing a critical portfolio of evidence for an award-bearing academic development programme. An e-portfolio had been adopted to address criticisms that conventional assessment fails to take account of the context in which teaching practitioners operate. The project aimed to enable teaching practitioners to access and gain familiarity with pedagogically sound e-portfolio opportunities. In addition, it aimed to foster a reflective approach, promote critical thinking focused on learning and teaching and enhance continuing professional development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 522-527
Author(s):  
Emily Player ◽  
Alice Shiner ◽  
Nick Steel ◽  
Veena Rodrigues

Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for the maintenance and improvement of the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals. GP registrars are required to evidence CPD in their ePortfolio and likewise, GPs are mandated to accrue and evidence a minimum of 50 hours CPD for their annual appraisal. CPD can be delivered in many ways, with an increasing movement towards online learning. Technology-enhanced learning (TEL) encompasses online learning and is ever changing. This article will discuss a type of TEL known as massive open online courses (MOOCs) and the role of MOOCs in delivering CPD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon Macfarlane ◽  
James Pearce

The Advanced Paediatric Life Support, Australia Paediatric Life Support course is designed to improve outcomes for critically ill and injured paediatrics treated by healthcare professionals. It is comprised of pre-reading, online learning and a one-day face-to-face session that covers basic life support, airway management, cardiac rhythm recognition and defibrillation, intraosseous access and recognition of the seriously injured and ill child. This paper reviews the course and concludes that it should be considered as part of the continuing professional development requirements for paramedics.


Author(s):  
Simon Lygo-Baker ◽  
Stylianos Hatzipanagos

The chapter reports work that investigated the use of e-portfolios developed by teaching practitioners as part of an award-bearing academic development programme in the UK. The project aimed to enable teaching practitioners to access and gain familiarity with pedagogically sound e-portfolio opportunities. The project was designed to foster a reflective approach, promote critical thinking focused on learning and teaching, and enhance continuing professional development. The outcomes of this project are discussed in terms of an appreciation of e-assessment by the teaching practitioners involved, recommendations for an e-portfolio environment that uses technology enhanced learning resources to foster a reflective approach that can enable and enhance continuous professional development for academic staff.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document