This is a presentation by Susan Ko and Jennifer Lieberman from the Networking 2000 online conference. The authors discuss the value of an online instructor development program for online teaching and its place within a comprehensive faculty support program. The focus is on training issues, challenges and solutions leading to greater instructor satisfaction and skills as well as student satisfaction and high retention rates.
The authors define the necessary elements for successful online instructor training, and discuss training issues, challenges and solutions leading to greater instructor satisfaction and skills as well as student satisfaction and high retention rates.
According to Ko and Lieberman, the most successful online course experiences for students and instructors depend on the expertise and dedication of a well prepared online instructor. Their presentations suggests the following underpinnings for a professional development program for online educational staff.
- The faculty development training should be conducted online.
- Training should be mandatory for all online instructors.
- The person leading the training should be an experienced online instructor.
- The training should be conducted on the same online course platform in which the participants will later teach.
- The training should include both software training and focused discussions on online pedagogy.
- The training should include real-life case studies.
- Participants should develop an online syllabus.
- The training should include follow-up feedback and support.
In the latter portion of the presentation Ko and Lieberman discuss why continued support for Online Faculty is essential.
Readability:As with almost all the NetWorking 2000 presentations, this is easy to read and makes important and valid points along the way. The authors write with credibility based on experience.
Recommended use:A recommended read for those responsible for professional development of educational and other staff working or soon to be working with students online. Staff Training and Development, Professional Development and similar functional units will gain from this presentation.
