Faculty Articles

Post-Secondary Educators' Professional Development: Investigation of an Online Approach to Enhancing Teaching and Learning

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2005

Keywords

Online learning, Professional development, Community college faculty, Technology implementation

Publication Title

Internet and Higher Education

ISSN

1096-7516

Volume

8

Issue/No.

4

Abstract

Faculty in post-secondary institutions must continually reassess, refine, and revise their teaching, yet it is a challenge for them to gain this professional development with heavy teaching responsibilities and high demands on their time. Creating Optimum Learning Environments (CREOLE) is a collaborative project between one community college and one university to develop an online training program for post-secondary education faculty on the basic principles of teaching and learning and the development of online courses. Four independent modules were developed and taught in a one semester format for educators throughout the U.S. The goal of this research was to identify the strenghts and challenges of this course; determine the changes in pedagogical practice of the participating faculty members; and to examine the resulting changes in participants' course materials to reflect learning and motivation theories, and appropriate online learning strategies. Methods included pre- and post-surveys of the participants, interviews, document analysis, and instructors' reflections. Results demonstrated high expectations from all participants, difficulty in forming a sustained learning community, continuing challenge in technological aspects, and requirement for intense instructor involvement to maintain morale.

DOI

10.1016/j.iheduc.2005.08.001

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