Topic
A1.1: The Online Journey Begins
Characteristics of an Effective Instructor
Just what does it take to be an effective
instructor when your students are somewhere in cyberspace? To find the
answer, we need to look at the characteristics of effective teaching,
regardless of the medium. Wotruba and Wright (1975) identified the following
six characteristics of an effective instructor:
1. Knowledge of and enthusiasm
for the subject matter and teaching.
2. Good organization of subject matter and course.
3. Effective communication skills.
4. Positive attitude toward students.
5. Fairness in evaluation and grading.
6. Flexibility in approaches
to teaching.
Further studies have recognized other essential
characteristics of a teacher, such as sensitivity to student needs, a
concern for their learning, and the ability to motivate. It should come
as no surprise that these characteristics also influence the success
of an online educator.
Go to the article prepared by the Rochester
Institute of Technology, "Effective
Teaching Techniques for Distance Learning," and see how your
list compares to the characteristics posted there.
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