Faculty Self-Assessment: Preparing for Online Teaching
Penn State has developed quite a useful Faculty Assessment of Preparedness to Teach Online. The assessment contains 4 categories and 22 questions regarding organizational skills, planning skills, detail skills and availability. After completing the questionnaire, you will receive a detailed evaluation of your readiness to teach online. Below you will find an example of an edited results page. The site can be found at http://weblearning.psu.edu/news/faculty-self-assessment
Your results
Below are the results from the Faculty Self-Assessment Tool for Online Teaching Preparedness. Please read over the results carefully. The references located in the feedback area will provide you with valuable resources if you are interested in learning more about teaching online. Remember to consult with colleagues who have taught online and instructional designers or elearning support persons available to you for more information relevant to your institution.
Category 1: Organization and Time Management
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Benchmark |
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Feedback |
| Organizational Skills | I am fairly organized. | 3 | Because you report that you are fairly organized, this should not be a problem for you.Classroom management is just as important, if not more important, in an online course environment than it is for a “resident course.” Having a plan in place for record keeping, e-mail/communication, grading assignments, and teacher-to-student interactions can make online teaching and learning a positive experience for all involved. |
| Planning | I usually plan my courses in advance. | 4 | The fact that you usually do things in advance will prove to be important to your online teaching success.Due to the “virtual nature” of much of the online teaching experience, keeping organized and on schedule can greatly impact your online success. The online classroom provides less flexibility to adjust to changing schedules and topics than the face-to-face classroom. If organization is not your forte, devising strategies or seeking assistance in developing and maintaining a regular schedule can be of tremendous help to the online instructor. |
Category 2: Communicating Online
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Benchmark |
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Feedback |
| Conveying Personality | I can do so very easily and naturally. | 5 | You reported that you are able to easily and naturally convey your personality and/or emotions through your writing. This skill will help you to establish a feeling of comfort among your students. Students tend to respond favorably to online instructors who can express their emotions clearly.In a classroom, you have your physical presence – your voice, body language, intonation, expressions, and gestures – to help you communicate with your students. In most online environments, instructors do not have this luxury. Therefore, online learning puts an inordinate emphasis on writing style, attitude, and intonation because it is being expressed in text. None of the conventional ways of modifying ambiguous or ironic statements such as the wink, the raised eyebrow, the shrug and/or the smile are available online. Thus, an instructor must pay particular attention to communication nuances. |
Category 3: Teaching and Online Experience
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Benchmark |
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Feedback |
| Teaching Resources | I have done some searching on the Internet and have located a few resources for teaching. | 3 | You reported that you have searched the Internet for resources with which to enhance your course, and have found a few. Excellent resources are often available via the Internet, and if you don’t find them your students often will. Consider asking a colleague for assistance if you are not sure where to begin.Instructional resources are abundant on the World Wide Web. Below are great resources for higher education faculty to enhance instruction and build learning communities.MERLOT: http://www.merlot.org Higher education online teaching and learning materials â“ personal collections and assignments Blackboard: http://www.blackboard.com Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/
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Category 4: Technical Skills
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Criterion |
Benchmark |
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Feedback |
| Computer Terminology | I have a working knowledge. | 3 | Because you have a working knowledge with regard to computer terminology, you are probably ready from a technical knowledge standpoint.A little knowledge will get you a long way. Understanding the basics of computer terminology is essential when teaching online. It will help you identify and troubleshoot issues that may occur. If the need arises where you seek assistance from a help desk, it is important to be able to communicate and understand what is occurring. To learn more about basic computer terminology, visit http://www.techterms.com/ |
| File and folder Management | My files are well organized, but I could be more consistent. | 4 | You reported that your files are organized well on your computer, but that you could be more consistent. It may be a good idea for you to focus on this as you prepare to teach online. To learn more about file management, do an online search for “file management tutorials” that apply to your operating system.File management is a key skill needed for teaching online courses. Organization of files enables you to manage your time efficiently. |
Overall Evaluation
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Criterion |
Benchmark |
Score |
Feedback |
| Total Score | 78 | According to the input you have provided, you may be well suited for online teaching. There appears to be several areas that could present challenges for you in the online classroom. Please read through your results carefully and use the references provided for more information. It is advised that you consult with a colleague who has taught online, an instructional designer, or other elearning support persons available to you at your institution for additional help. |
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