Education Without Boundaries: Faculty Training And Support

Abstract

This paper looks at two specific issues related to faculty success in the online classroom.  The first, an effective faculty training program, is crucial in building a cadre of competent online faculty to meet the growing demands for web-based classes.  However, the training programs offered vary significantly from on-the-job training to intensive immersion programs which take place before the first online teaching assignment.  The second issue is ongoing support including administrative, academic, and technical support.  While effective training is instrumental in getting the faculty member prepared for cyberspace, the support services available while teaching the online class are often responsible for how smoothly the course runs.