Case Study 2: Faculty Presence in the Online Classroom - Academic Chair Feedback Transcript


Laurie Hulcher
Assistant Director for Graduate Student Relations
Graduate School of Management and Technology
Published: July-August 2007

Category: » Fac-resources » Faculty-development

Feedback from the Academic Chair - Transcript

Here is a situation where the student and instructor both have strong interests in the course, but the student has a valid concern.  Regular interaction and exchange of ideas between students and faculty are important components of online education.  Instructors should set time aside each week to participate in the online conferences by responding to questions, probing for new ideas, clarifying information, summarizing, or generally keeping things on track.  Meaningful interaction contributes greatly to student motivation, persistence, and success.

The student in our video has taken a huge step to in his (her) willingness to speak up for the betterment of the class.  The faculty member seems genuinely interested as well.  One resource for the professor to consult is the UMUC Faculty Handbook. The handbook includes a section on best practices in classroom interaction.  It describes how student learning is enhanced when faculty have a visible presence in the online classroom, and respond quickly to student questions and concerns.

Another recommendation is that the faculty member work closely with his (her) program director or a peer mentor to develop strategies for online interaction.

About the Author(s)

Laurie Hulcher, Assistant Director, GSMT, handles a vide variety of student communication, liaison, and case issues including student academic petitions and grievances. Within this role, she also provides guidance to faculty and graduate students on equitable processes for implementing the University's academic policies.

Betsy Alperin, Assistant Dean, GSMT, manages faculty academic affairs. Her responsibilities include promoting programs to develop, reward, and retain faculty and enhance their effectiveness. She also teaches EDCP 100, Principles and Strategies of Effective Learning.

Heloisa Siffert, Senior Instructional Support Specialist, Center for Support of Instruction, develops and delivers faculty training programs, and collaborates with the academic units on online classroom setup, course design, and resolving technical issues. Her areas of expertise include graphic design and web development.

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