ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING: FACULTY
PERCEPTIONS
ON EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES
AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
G. Plantegenest*,
D. Sleight, K. Lovell, B. Mavis, Michigan State University College of Human
Medicine, East Lansing, MI 48824 U.S.A.
PURPOSE: To investigate faculty
development efforts and faculty perceptions of what instructional design
features are effective in the implementation of online lectures and online
instructional materials.
METHODS: An online questionnaire was developed
with four parts: (1) instructional experience, (2) experience with online
courses and materials, (3) features important for successful online instruction
and (4) resources important in developing online instruction. E-mail
solicitation through several listservs was used to
solicit respondents. Faculty who had no experience developing online materials were also asked to share their perceptions about online
teaching and learning.
RESULTS: Faculty (N=234) from 83 domestic and
international educational institutions responded to an online questionnaire.
Sixty-eight percent of respondents taught medical or professional students. The
majority of respondents (85%) felt that online instruction or materials
enhanced teaching effectiveness. About 75% said that implementing online
materials and instruction takes more time than traditional instruction. Of
those who had some prior training in developing online materials (47%), 26%
received it from individual consultations and the rest from classes at their
institution. Faculty indicated that the key resources needed to assist and
support their development efforts are: faculty release time
(84%), technical consultation (88%), and on-going technical support (91%).
Features of online learning materials considered very important included ease
of navigation, interactive exercises, online quizzes and relevant images and
video. A majority of faculty (70%) felt they were successful implementing
online lectures or course materials.
CONCLUSION/FUTURE DIRECTIONS:
These results will be used to provide support and training opportunities
for faculty.