Faculty Handbook

ONLINE INSTRUCTOR COMPETENCIES

The role of the instructor in education is essential, well-documented and generally understood, the role of the instructor in Online Education is just as important, becoming well-documented by not as well understood. In the Online environment, instructors need to overcome a variety of potential barriers caused by technology, time, place, culture, and communication skills to create an optimal environment for achieving educational goals.

In addition to having credible content knowledge, an understanding of how people learn, and a desire to teach, the online educator must employ additional competencies to ensure that students are actively engaged in the learning process.

The following list of competencies is designed to assist online instructors as they work in this learning environment to enhance student performance and retention.

Sets course agenda, objectives, rules, and decision making norms.
Posts course materials (syllabus, assignments, discussion topics, etc.) at the beginning of the course.
Posts timely bulletins about changes and updates to course.
During first week, assures that all students are ‘on board’ and responding (contacts privately by phone or email).
Returns student calls/emails within posted times.
Manages discussion and student interactions with leadership and direction.
Models desired methods of communication.
Engages students, fosters sharing of participants’ knowledge, questions, and
expertise.
Contributes outside resources (online, print-based, others).
Contributes advanced content knowledge and insights, weaves together threaded discussion. Helps students apply, analyze, and synthesize content.
Fosters group learning.
Provides public and private acknowledgment to students who contribute to discussion.
Privately (by email or phone) asks non-contributing students to participate in
discussions
Proficient with all technical systems used in the course.
Helps students troubleshoot technical systems used in the course and refer to
appropriate help sources, as needed.
Makes students quickly feel comfortable with the system and the software.
Provides students with clear grading criteria.
Reminds students about upcoming assignments. (Weekly Emails)
Expects college level writing. Grades/corrects spelling and grammar mistakes.
Provides examples of desired writing/assignments.
Provides resource ideas for completing assignments.
Assists students who are having problems (by email or phone) completing the assignments.
Returns students assignments, with detailed notes and grade, within time
framework specified in the syllabus
Contacts (by email or phone) students who have not completed assignments.