Well — I just finished up instructing for one of Liberty University’s Distance Learning Program’s spring sub-terms. In fact, I just submitted my final grades. My class, BIBL 104, Survey Of Biblical Literature had 23 students in our virtual, asynchronous classroom. The more classes I serve as adjunct for the more convinced I am that online students need online instructors who are not only subject matter experts but are also extremely responsive to students’ inquiries and questions. I have had students tell me “horror stories” of online professors who failed to communicate in a consistent and timely way.
Since many online programs operate primarily in an asychronous environment, it is imperative that communication in the virtual classroom be timely. Remember, asychronous delivery means that the communication protocols are not synchronous and that information is transmitted intermittenly or at non-prescribed intervals.
 |
|||
|
|
A couple thoughts on this:
1. Faculty to student ratios in each online course, not across the entire institution, are critical measurements for academic quality and student success.
2. Online professors in asychronous, virtual classrooms must be responsive and should be evaluated and held accountable to some degree on their timely (and, of course, accurate) responses to student inquiries.