Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

References

Results

The following information refers to national survey responses to this question: Did departmental or university administrators express interest in your online courses?

Seventeen respondents report that no one has ever expressed interest in their online courses. The remaining responses describe varying levels of interest, usually expressed through observations and evaluations by deans, program directors, other administrators, and colleagues.

Concerns about administrators' motives is evident in several responses. One individual writes, "Administrators see [online courses] as a draw for students and a way to free up campus classrooms." The suggestion, echoed in several other responses, is that administrative interest in online teaching is motivated by logistical and financial concerns rather than theoretical or pedagogical issues.

What Is Most Challenging about Teaching Writing Online?

The following list, with items in descending order by frequency of response, reveals the challenges most commonly cited by national survey respondents:

• Communication takes longer and is more challenging
• Time consuming/heavy workload
• Keeping students on task and engaged
• Lack of verbal and nonverbal cues
• Technology-related problems
• Student preparedness (some students un- or under-prepared for eLearning)
• Uncertainty about student comprehension of key concepts
• Difficulty of coordinating collaboration among students
• Difficulty of managing online discussions

Local survey responses identify the same major challenges. One respondent writes, "Connecting with students and making sure that they find the class useful and interactive is my biggest challenge in teaching online." Other comments focus on managing and evaluating participation in group discussions, and all local respondents emphasize how time consuming grading and responding can be in an online course.

An interview excerpt provides additional insight into the challenges facing online writing instructors. Please click the play button to listen to the audio clip (.mp3), with is approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds long.

Laura Instructor of English