Section A

Discussion 1: Differences Between Teaching Online and In Person

When you consider the differences between teaching online and in person, what comes to mind? Teaching online in your pajamas? Being dressed in business attire in front of a classroom of students? Consider the personality requirements of teaching a class in person:  You will be required to do public speaking, be organized, and entertain the students while you teach them. What are the differences when teaching online?

For this Discussion, review and study this week’s Learning Resources. Then consider the differences between teaching online and in person. Think about what skills and dispositions are necessary for teaching online and in person. Finally, reflect on how well suited you might be for teaching in either an online or in-person setting.

With these thoughts in mind:

a brief description of the differences between the skills needed to teach online and those needed to teach in person. Finally, explain how well suited your skills and dispositions might be for teaching in either an online or in-person setting.

“Will I teach at a school on the East Coast or on the West Coast? Maybe I will teach abroad. Will I teach at a large university or a small liberal arts college?” In terms of a teaching setting, your teaching predecessors, who were embarking on a teaching career in the 1970s or 1980s, likely had these kind of reflections when considering the setting in which they would teach. Thanks to the pervasive impact of technology and the Internet, you now have the option to teach students from nearly all of these settings in the comfort of your home. Or you may pursue the collegiate atmosphere of a position teaching in person.

For this Discussion, review and study this week’s Learning Resources, including the Instructor Position Scenarios document. Then consider the following scenario: You have been offered the opportunity to apply for two teaching positions (assume for the moment that you are interested in one of them). After reviewing the Instructor Position Scenarios document, select two questions from those presented for each position and reflect on how the answers that were given might influence your decision. Finally think about which position you would choose and why.

With these thoughts in mind:

a brief description of the two questions you selected from each teaching position that influenced your decision. Be sure to include in your response the answers that were provided for the questions you selected for each position. Then offer a different question you might ask at your interview for each position. Finally, explain which position you might choose and why.

Readings

• Stavredes, T. (2011). Effective online teaching: Foundations and strategies for student success. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Part 1, “Profile of the Online Learner” (p. 1)
  • Chapter 1, “Characteristics of the Online Learner” (pp. 3–11)
  • Chapter 2, “Key Learning Attributes of Adults” (pp. 13–19)
  • Chapter 3, “Challenges That Affect Learners’ Persistence” (pp. 21–30)
  • Part 4, “Developing Cognitive, Social, and Teaching Presence Online” (pp. 105–106)
  • Chapter 11, “Developing Cognitive Presence Through Active Learning Strategies” (pp. 107–130)
• Zhu, E., & Kaplan, M. (2014). Technology and teaching. In M. Svinicki & W. J. McKeachie, McKeachie’s teaching tips: Strategies, research, and theory for college and university teachers (14th ed., pp. 232–263). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

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