Determinants of Online Teaching Success

Abstract

In this chapter, teachers share their thoughts regarding the determinants for success in online teaching that makes some online teachers successful. A brief review of the relevant published literature is followed by a discussion of the determinants of online teaching success, substantiated by copious citations from the interviews conducted for this book. Several issues identified by our teachers are very important for ensuring that online teaching is successful. Emotional involvement, teacher effectiveness, student quality, and technology reliability are only some of the issues affecting online teaching success. Teachers care deeply about their profession and find that the relatively static design of the online courses leaves little room for experimentation and quick adjustments. Online, they are more effective in helping students improve their writing. In the classroom, they are more effective in helping them reflect on the world.