We only need to
look around to see that the landscape of higher education is being transformed
due to increasing market demands for online learning. To remain competitive,
institutions need to embrace the concept of online education rather than fear
it, acknowledge its benefits and limitations, and act upon it.
As institutions embrace online education and online instructors become
involved, educational and instructional issues and challenges must be faced.
Policy personnel need to be aware of the impact of online courses on
institutional growth and equally important, they need to understand what is
involved in online instructor training and the impact online teaching will have
on an instructor’s workload. Online teaching is demanding and doesn’t just
happen!
Designing for teaching online calls for intentional design and creating a sense
of presence and connection between the instructor and learners (Lehman &
Conceição, 2010.) Creating a sense of presence involves an awareness and
understanding of how to “be there” for the online learner to bring the “human
aspect” into the online environment. Teaching online also requires a
distinctive type of management to help instructors find success and balance in
their lives.
The Design Process Difference
The process for designing, delivering, and evaluating online instruction is
different than the process used for face-to-face instruction. From a design
perspective, the type of management for an online instructor depends on the
components of the design process (such as content type, course format,
strategies, instructor role, technology, and support) and factors that
influence workload (such as number of courses taught, learner enrollment,
position held, and instructor responsibilities).
References
Conceição, S. C. O, Lehman, R. M. (2011). Managing Online Instructor Workload: Strategies for Finding Balance and Success. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Lehman, R. M., & Conceição, S. C. O. (2010). Creating a sense of presence in online teaching: How to “be there” for distance learners. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
