ERIC Number: EJ1068386
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Jul
Pages: 30
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1547-500X
EISSN: N/A
"A Desire for Growth": Online Full-Time Faculty's Perceptions of Evaluation Processes
DeCosta, Meredith; Bergquist, Emily; Holbeck, Rick
Journal of Educators Online, v12 n2 p73-102 Jul 2015
Post-secondary educational institutions use various means to evaluate the teaching performance of faculty members. There are benefits to effective faculty evaluation, including advancing the scholarship of teaching and learning, as well as improving the functionality and innovation of courses, curriculum, departments, and ultimately the broader community (Boyer, 1990; Glassick, Huber, & Maeroff, 1997). While there is a body of research related to the evaluation of faculty in traditional settings, there have been fewer studies examining online faculty members' perceptions of evaluation processes. Further, due to the growth of online education, the existing evaluation scales, including those used in traditional settings, have been questioned (Berk, 2013; Hathorn & Hathorn, 2010; Rothman, Romeo, Brennan, & Mitchell, 2011). This qualitative study examines one university's online full-time faculty and their perceptions of the tools and processes used to evaluate their teaching. Through a systematic content analysis of survey data, findings indicate that online faculty members have a desire to grow as instructors, infrequently focusing on modality or job expectations as a means for growth. Participants expressed an interest in holistic, descriptive evaluation feedback by a range of stakeholders, particularly those with content knowledge. Study findings have implications for administrators and other stakeholders related to online full-time faculty, including the processes and documents through which they are evaluated. [The volume number (13) shown on the PDF is incorrect.]
Descriptors: College Faculty, Teacher Evaluation, Evaluation Methods, Qualitative Research, Teacher Attitudes, Content Analysis, Teacher Surveys, Online Courses, Teacher Competencies, Faculty Development, Holistic Approach, Feedback (Response), Stakeholders, Technology Uses in Education, Educational Technology, Communities of Practice
Journal of Educators Online. 500 University Drive, Dothan, AL 36303. Web site: http://www.thejeo.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A