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Online Teaching Questions and Answers

Is teaching online right for me?

If you are comfortable with ever-changing technology, desire more contact with your students outside a
traditional classroom and want to reach new groups of students, then teaching online might be right for you.
A popular misconception is that teaching online involves less work or less frequent contact with students. In
reality, for most instructors teaching online actually requires more time. The reward is more frequent contact
with your students.

What is the first step I can take if I want to teach online?

See the instructor approval process page for all steps in the verification process.

How can I learn more about teaching online?

There are a variety of different training and professional development opportunities which can help you learn more about how to teach online.

Do I have to know how to build websites, write programs or edit videos?

No. While such skills might be helpful, they are not essential. 

Am I expected to hold office hours?

When you teach online, your responsibility to hold office hours is no different than when you teach
face-to-face. Full time faculty are contractually required to hold office hours, part-time faculty are not.

There is no special requirement to hold virtual office hours when you teach an online course. Although many
student questions can be answered through FAQ files, discussion board posts, e-mails or instant and text
messaging, it is always a good idea to have some appointed time when students can reach you.

Whether you choose to hold these office hours virtually, via the telephone or in person is up to you.

What about academic integrity online?

Please see the Crafton Hills College Guide to Supporting Academic Integrity Online for suggestions about strategies and policies for reinforcing academic integrity in an online environment.