ERIC Number: EJ938820
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1541-4914
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Frequency and Types of Instructor-Interactions in Online Instruction
Davidson-Shivers, Gayle V.
Journal of Interactive Online Learning, v8 n1 p23-40 Spr 2009
Concerns for faculty time spent in online instruction are replete in the literature; some authors suggest that online instruction increases faculty work. In a specific rather than global manner, this case study focused on the frequency and types of instructor-to-student interactions that occurred in a graduate online course. Using archival records, interactions were classified by communication tool, message content, and recipient, and then tallied. Most instructor-student interactions occurred through the LMS gradebook, followed by emails. Most communications were related to course assignments and sent to individual students. The overall total of interactions was comparable to other findings and may suggest that online teaching, at least in this case, increased faculty work. This may be due, in part, to the individualized nature of the instructor-student interactions. Further study is recommended. (Contains 5 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Online Courses, Incidence, Teacher Student Relationship, Network Analysis, Teaching Load, Computer Mediated Communication, Communication Strategies, Educational Psychology, Transcripts (Written Records), Content Analysis, Case Studies
University of Alabama. 152 Rose Administration, P.O. Box 870104, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487. Web site: http://www.ncolr.org/jiol
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A