How Many Online Courses Is Too Many?
What is the maximum course load that an online instructor should undertake? Does the fact that a person can work at home provide the increased energy and stamina to teach more classes than a face-to-face adjunct? Is there a set saturation point when teaching effectiveness is diminished in the online environment? I believe there is, but what is the magic number? It is probably different for everybody and the number of classes is likely based on how much online teaching experience one has and the subject area being taught. There is a learning curve with online platforms, so experience does allow for better time usage. Writing intensive subjects can also be more time consuming due to the grading load and feedback requirements.
The institutions where I teach online all have class load limitations; they must feel there is a point where teaching effectiveness begins to diminish. One University has a two-course load maximum per nine-week session. You can teach an overload, but this requires Dean approval and cannot exceed four courses per term. Another University has a strict four-course per term load for experienced faculty, with terms ranging from five-to-nine weeks. This University will limit the load to two
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John:
I agree that there are many people having trouble finding any online teaching, and then there are many who are doing too much. It seems to be feast or famine when it comes to finding assignments. Getting in is the hard part; once you are teaching and established, learning to say no to assignment is the hard part. Experience with online teaching seems to be the key. Once you have experience, schools seem to scoop you up as soon as you apply.
~Jodi
This is an interesting article. We have many many teachers posting on our site because they cant find enough online teaching opportunities.
I have been teaching online for about a year, and I think it certainly does dilute the quality of education to teach so many classes. On the other hand, there is little that can be done about it. The fact is, most online teaching is done as a side occupation, and therefore finances tend to come in the way of the quality of education.
This past week, I had a class dropped from a school that has consistently given me two terms per course for the past five terms. It is hard to strike a balance, especially teaching for “for-profit” institutions that are driven by the bottom line.
Perhaps I was a little cynical this time around. The fact is, I do love the flexibility associated with online teaching. I am currently financing a PhD in the UK which I would not be able to do without this venue (I began teaching online in the US and have been over the pond since January).
If one does multipoint teaching to many locations, perhaps even 200 or 300 students per class in group setting of 10 to 30 in multiple time zones, should the salary be the same as if one were teaching a single class of 20 or 30?