Where has the Time Gone? Faculty Activities and Time Commitments in the Online Classroom

B. Jean Mandernach, Grand Canyon University, USA
Swinton Hudson, Grand Canyon University, USA
Shanna Wise, Grand Canyon University, USA

Abstract

While research has examined the comparative time commitment required for online versus face-to-face teaching, little is known about the distribution of faculty time investment into the various aspects of online course facilitation. The purpose of this study is to examine the proportion of time faculty devote to each of the pedagogical components that are required to effectively teach an online course. A survey of fulltime online faculty reveals that online faculty, much like their face-to-face counterparts, spend the majority of their time grading, providing feedback, and communicating with students (including discussion threads and one-on-one interactions). Understanding the faculty time investment required to read and individually respond to student messages and written assignments may assist institutions in structuring online policies, course schedules and faculty development to ensure a balance between faculty workload and online course effectiveness.

Keywords:

Online learning, online course effectiveness, faculty workload, online course facilitations