ERIC Number: EJ864297
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1556-3847
EISSN: N/A
The Professional Adjunct: An Emerging Trend in Online Instruction
Bedford, Laurie A.
Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, v12 n3 Fall 2009
Expanding enrollment in online programs has concurrently created a demand for qualified faculty to assume the increasing workload. As full-time faculty have been unable to fill the gap due to workload or resistance, organizations are more frequently turning to adjuncts to meet the needs of their online learners. As a result, there has been increasing dialogue regarding the nature of the adjunct-university relationship as well as the quality, rigor, and consistency of courses being facilitated by part-time faculty. Complicating this dialogue are a small but growing number of individuals who do not hold full-time jobs but rely on multiple adjunct positions to fulfill their professional needs. This qualitative study investigates the motivations and demographics of this emerging phenomenon.
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Online Courses, Distance Education, Adjunct Faculty, Faculty Workload, Educational Trends, Teacher Characteristics, Teacher Motivation, Employment Patterns, Barriers, Teaching Conditions, Questionnaires, Content Analysis, Interviews, Higher Education, College Instruction, College Faculty, Web Based Instruction
State University of West Georgia. 1601 Maple Street, Honors House, Carrollton, GA 30118. Tel: 678-839-5489; Fax: 678-839-0636; e-mail: distance@westga.edu; Web site: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A