We have a training curve as well, but it starts with communication. The faculty needs to understand that with online we can not look the student in the eyes to gauge understanding, we must evaluate discussion boards and written work. For our blended programs we must pay more attention in the shops and correct misunderstandings there.
We have selected individuals from our existing faculty that have great communication skills and an aptitude for technology. We will slowly be training the remainder - as time and needs allow.
-Chris
Linda asked, "What are the training needs for online delivery of courses and programs at your institution? Discuss how those needs were defined and who is responsible for implementing them."
Everyone needs to be familiar with the online delivery of courses. Thankfully, our system as a "Meeting Room" functionality that is similar to an online course. We had a president who wisely used this for campus-wide trainings. The Dean/Director of Education and faculty coach need to be responsible for faculty training and introductory course faculty orient students.
Mark York
My training needs will be rather broadbased as the IT that 'supports' the program is the IT responsible for the IT of the 23 Registries in the large corporatino that owns us and we will never be a priority. I sold the program and budget to corporate and will be responsible to make it profitable. The agreement with my request for our starting our online program on an outside server was a relief as it will be well supported. The need will still exist for our IT to train on the system to help provide the appropriate hardware. The teachers will need extensive training as they are not only ignorant of the new software, but of computing in general. The application person will take it to be better able to evaluate the student's likely competency, and know what tech to tell them they will need. I and the students round us out as we will need to function in the environment
Currently we are in the process of hiring faculty who have experience in delivery of online courses. The university is not utilizing current faculty to teach online courses for retention purposes. The university currently is training prospective University faculty, staff and students for training once an LMS has been chosen.
Currently, there is very little training for our online learning environment. There needs to be more training for all staff members (admissions, faculty, etc)on our LMS. I would be the one responsible for implementing training. Required training for every new staff member will be necessary in the future.
The training needs for our long distance were developed based on our in house program outline and experience from the direct contact with the students. I am the instructor and developer of the programs with deep experience in the subjects, school operations and fully aware of the relationship between student proficiency and market requirements.
I think every one at the system should be trained on how to mange the online delivery of the course.
Due to our school being very small everybody had to go through testing the module and then training. Students rely on administrator and teachers to help them with the online courses. The best way to do this is for everybody to know the programs. If a teacher is not available to answer a students questions someone else has to step in. This guarantees that the student gets the best care. If the qestions are specific to course curriculum then the teacher has to take care of the student. Otherwise anybody can help the student.
I am aware this might not work at a large institution, but for us it is working perfectly.
There has been no training for our instructors on how to teach an online course. The instructors are not experienced teachers, but experts in their field. So not only does our faculty require training on teaching methodologies, theories and practices, but definitely require help and training on how to teach online. This became even more evident with course/instructor evaluations.
As the Director of Online Learning and Instructional Technology, I established standards and guidelines for online course design, development and delivery, and I am in the process of creating training for all faculty. I’m recommending that admissions people complete the course as well so they realize that it’s not just getting bodies into seats, but students who have the necessary skills to successfully complete online courses.
The key is to train faculty to be engaged and responsive. This starts with the hire... hire faculty who are naturally wired to communicate and respond.
