Why is It Important to Offer Instructors Professional Development?

Higher education instructors need to learn anew and rethink pedagogical strategies when designing and teaching online and blended delivery formats. Instructors crave opportunities to discuss and share their experiences with others. Yet there are few opportunities in their work to do so. This episode, part of the Adult Learning Exchange Virtual Community Podcast, under the Series “Professional Development for Instructors,” is for administrators, faculty developers, and instructors. This episode explains the importance of professional development for instructors and how instructors can benefit. Subscribe to or follow the online forum. If you are interested in the interactive workshops we offer, check our website.

 

Listen to Podcast

 

 Episode 1 Professional Development for Instructors Transcripts

 

References

Baran, E., & Correia, A. P. (2014). A professional development framework for online teaching. TechTrends, 58, 95-101.

Skibba, K. A. (2012). Adult learning influence on faculty learning cycle: Individual and shared reflections while learning to teach online lead to pedagogical transformations. In Virtual Mentoring for Teachers: Online Professional Development Practices.

Skibba, K. & Widmer, M. (2021). Blended Faculty Community of Inquiry Transforms Online Teaching Perceptions and Practices. In A. B. Picciano A.G., Dziuban, C., Graham, C. & Moskal, P. (Eds), Blended Learning Research Perspectives Volume 3. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.

Pelletier K, McCormack M, Reeves J, Robert J, Arbino N, Dickson-Deane C, Guevara C, Koster L, Sanchez-Mendiola M, Bessette LS, Stine J. (2022). [1] 2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report.

Instructor Workload and Time Management

 

Workshop Date to Be Determined

 

Teaching online requires unique methods of time and classroom management. This workshop explores a variety of ways to manage an online course, including approaches to support learners, communicate expectations, and plan time effectively. 

Why is it Important to Manage Workload While Teaching Online?

Managing an online course means juggling many responsibilities that can be time-consuming. Because students are located at a distance, online instructors need good course management skills and should communicate regularly with their students. Instructors also need to know how to use their time efficiently in an online environment that is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

What's Needed to Manage Workload While Teaching Online?

Teaching online requires unique methods of time and classroom management. It entails a distinctive type of workload in comparison to face-to-face instruction depending on the different components of the design process (such as content type, course format, strategies, instructor role, technology, and support) and influencing factors (such as number of courses taught, learner enrollment, level of instruction [undergraduate/graduate], etc.). 

Focus of the Workshop

This workshop explores a variety of ways to manage an online course, including approaches to support learners, communicate expectations, and plan time effectively for both you and your students.  

  

In this workshop, participants will:

• Identify course tasks that allow online instructors to plan, prioritize, and manage workload.
• Identify tangible factors to determine instructor workload based on time spent on the tasks to be accomplished before, during, and at the end of an online course.
• Discuss the use of a learning design process to balance workload based on tasks.
• Use a template for managing tasks and prioritizing time that can serve as a guide for balancing workload when creating an online course.
  

For more information, contact us. To see all the workshops we have available, go to Professional Development for Instructors.

Welcome to Professional Development for Instructors Online Forum!

 

This forum, facilitated by Dr. Simone Conceição and Dr. Karen Skibba, focuses on online and hybrid resources, webinars, micro-courses, and podcast episodes for instructors. We invite you to join the forum, follow the postings, and share resources!