Defining the Excellent Online Instructor

Keith Pratt and Rena Palloff

An Online Teaching Tip
Excerpt from The Excellent Online Instructor by Rena M. Palloff and Keith Pratt

This list might apply to any excellent instructor, whether teaching face-to-face or online. The main difference here is that the excellent online instructor accomplishes all of this through the use of technology and, in many cases, without ever meeting his or her students in person. The ability to accomplish all of this through the use of technology is what sets the excellent online instructor apart.

• The excellent online instructor understands the differences between face-to-face and online teaching and can effectively implement them into development and facilitation of online classes.
• The excellent online instructor is committed to this form of teaching and uses the online environment to his or her advantage in delivering an online class.
• The excellent online instructor is able to establish presence early in the course and encourages students to do the same.
• The excellent online instructor is highly motivated and in turn is a good motivator for students.
• The excellent online instructor understands the importance of community building and devotes time at the start of the class to that function.
• The excellent online instructor promotes interactivity between students through development of good discussion questions that engage them and encourage them to seek out response material on their own.
• The excellent online instructor incorporates collaborative work into the design and delivery of an online class.
• The excellent online instructor respects students as partners in the learning process.
• The excellent online instructor is active and engaged throughout the course, providing timely, constructive feedback throughout.
• The excellent online instructor is open, flexible, compassionate, responsive, and leads by example.

Looking at the above, what are some of the ways you make yourself a better online instructor?