Share Paper: Overcoming Obstacles to Effective Online Instruction

1. Jered Borup, George Mason University, United States

Abstract: The growth of online learning has placed a strain on universities to provide students with qualified instructors. Not only do potential online instructors need to obtain the skills to teach online, they also need to expand their vision of what is possible in online learning and have a positive attitude towards new ways of teaching and learning. This case study examined the effectiveness of a 6-7 week professional development course to improve faculty members’ knowledge, skills, perceptions, and attitudes required to teach online. It was found that the course content and assignments improved faculty members’ knowledge and skills but it ...