Orientation, Mentoring and Ongoing Support: A Three-Tiered Approach to Online Faculty Development

Authors

  • Amber L. Vaill Bay Path College Contact address: 588 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106 Contact phone: 413-565-1057 Contact email: availl@baypath.edu
  • Peter A. Testori Bay Path College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v16i2.256

Keywords:

Faculty development, online learning, mentoring, support, online faculty, orientation

Abstract

In order for faculty to make a successful transition to teaching in the online classroom, they must receive professional development specifically geared toward this challenge. Bay Path College offers a faculty development program that incorporates three distinct components all geared toward aiding faculty in adjusting to teaching online and providing assistance while courses are in progress with the goal of ultimately impacting the overall online learning experience for faculty and students alike. This article describes the College’s three-tiered approach to faculty development and explains the role that initial training, peer mentoring, and ongoing support play in preparing faculty and shaping their confidence in their abilities as an online instructor.

Author Biographies

Amber L. Vaill, Bay Path College Contact address: 588 Longmeadow Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106 Contact phone: 413-565-1057 Contact email: availl@baypath.edu

Amber L. Vaill is the Director of Academic Technology and Online Learning at Bay Path College. She helped to establish the College’s Center for Distributed Learning (CDL) in 2007, and developed the student orientation course that is required for all online students, as well as the faculty development program for all online faculty. In her current position, she leads the team on campus that provides technology support and training to all faculty, students and staff, both on campus and online. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Education at Northcentral University and is specializing in e-learning.

Peter A. Testori, Bay Path College

Peter A. Testori is the Assistant Director of Online Learning Support at Bay Path College. Mr. Testori is responsible for facilitating support to faculty teaching online and hybrid courses and to students using online learning tools. He is responsible for the oversight of online student support, including the required Orientation to Online Learning course and the online student support coordinators at the College. Mr. Testori is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he earned his master of science in student development/higher education.

Published

2012-03-31

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 2 (2012)

Section

Faculty Issues

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