A recent survey found that more than half of professors who teach online courses said they would recommend them to all students, but they feel they lack support from their universities.
According to Jeff Seaman, author of the study conducted by Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, 10,700 faculty and staff members from 45 public institutions agreed online learning is equal to face-to-face instruction.
“The faculty survey data indicate growing acceptance of online learning among faculty but highlight a number of challenges, including campus support services and faculty incentives,” according to the report.
Seaman said the survey showed the concerns professors had about online teaching were mostly regarding support they received for online course development and incentives for developing and delivering online courses.
“Nearly 64 percent of faculty said it takes ‘somewhat more’ or ‘a lot more’ effort to teach online compared to a face-to-face course,” Seaman said.
The University of Wisconsin offers several online courses for various subjects, including nursing and engineering, for both undergraduates and graduates.
According to Ch?re Gibson, a retired UW professor in the School of Human Ecology, there are many opportunities for students to take online courses and she would recommend them to any student.
She added comparing face-to-face lectures to online courses is like comparing apples to oranges because of how different the structure is. Students in online courses are more actively engaged, mostly because it is necessary for them when working together in discussion groups and answering posted questions, Gibson said.
Another UW professor who has taught online courses, Pam Scheibel from the School of Nursing, also sees the differences in the way of teaching and learning. Like the survey, she believes online courses take more time to structure and prepare.
“If you have an online course, the people aren’t here to ask a question right away, like in the middle of a lecture,” Scheibel said. “It is really important with an online course that you are very structured (as a professor).”
Although being prepared for the course might initially take more time, she added overall she spent about the same amount of time preparing for face-to-face lectures; it was just spread out more over the semester.
Getting to know her students was also something Scheibel found easier in online courses compared to lectures, given the constant engagement and discussions.
“Because it is so intense and there is lots of action, you get to know them quite well (online),” Scheibel said.
As far as who should take online courses, Scheibel believes it is up to each student to decide what is easier for them depending on their lifestyle and the option should always be available to them no matter what they decide.
Gibson added that in today’s society of conference calls in the work world and the many ways we communicate online, taking an online course could benefit every student.
“I think every student should have an experience with an online course,” Gibson said.
