Faculty Development for Web-Based Teaching: Weaving Pedagogy with Skills Training

Abstract

At the institutional level, Web-based teaching focuses on faculty development. In the 1980s and 1990s, campuses invested their resources on building an infrastructure—putting computers and connective systems in place. Hand-in-hand with the development of an infrastructure is the proliferation of the World Wide Web (WWW). This near ubiquitous phenomenon has provided a common graphic based interface that campuses can use to communicate to a larger audience both internally and externally. It is not surprising then, that attention is now turning to the use of computers to deliver instruction. However, just having a technology infrastructure does not mean that faculty will use it as a part of their teaching. This chapter will examine a faculty development process focused on Web-based instruction within a major research university, faculty reactions to the process, the issues that faculty are facing in Web-based teaching, technology and instructional support, and a glimpse at the future.