3 Biggest Myths about Teaching Online Education

Like most of the students who enroll in an online course thinking it'll be a walk in the park, instructors also fantasize about the simplicity of teaching a course from the confines of their own home. Maybe that's why the rise of online education went from 3.2 million in 2006 to 12 million in 2009, according to research firm Ambient Insight. But despite the rise in popularity of online degree programs, many instructors still have a skewed idea of what teaching "distance education" truly entails. Below are the top three myths about online education, a must-read before you decide to teach.

Myth1:Teaching online will take less time since you don't have to be in class 3 hours a week. Teaching an online class - especially for the first time - can be extremely hectic. Because these classes are supposed to be designed to be just as complex and intense as campus-based classes and because there is little or no face-to-face interaction - they require much time, energy, and creativity to transform an online class into a meaningful learning experience for students. It's important to remember that teaching an online course is no different from teaching a campus-based course: you'll still need to prepare class materials, grade, and find ways to engage your students.

Myth 2: Everyone who teaches the courses are qualified to teach online. A lot of online programs try to convince potential students that online education is simple for them - the technology-driven generation. However, what might be simple for them might prove very difficult for you, the instructor. As the software for distance education continues to advance at a rapid rate, some instructors are struggling to keep up with the constant changes. Especially instructors who are used to traditional methods of teaching may find it troublesome adjusting to the new software, which will ultimately create problems for students. But you don't need to be a technology expert to teach a thorough class. Don't know a lot about HTML? Programs like Dreamweaver can simplify this for you. It's important to remember that experimentation is key: Prepare your class as you normally would and then search the web to figure out how to do it online. Don't be too proud get technical help when you need it. It's your job to find a way to get the information across to your students.

Myth 3: There will be little or less class-participation. A well-developed online class can in fact increase participation from students who might not feel comfortable sharing their views/opinions in a campus-based class. Students who are usually silenced due to language barriers or are merely just on the shy side are given the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and strengths through these online opportunities. And in a way, everyone's ideas are expressed since the information is accessible online and posted for everyone to see. This also provides an opportunity for instructors to have a better connection with students who might have been virtually invisible in a campus-based course.

This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes for online college courses.