Humanizing college online instruction: The effects of professional development on faculty perceptions and instructional practices

IF 6.4 1区教育学 Q1 EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Internet and Higher Education Pub Date : 2025-02-05 DOI:10.1016/j.iheduc.2025.100998

Di Xu , Yujia Liu , Zhiling Meng Shea , Kimberly Vincent-Layton , Jeffrey White , Michelle Pacansky-Brock

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The rapid growth of online learning has raised concerns about quality and equity in virtual education. This study introduces the Humanizing Online STEM Academy, a six-week professional development program designed specifically to promote humanizing and inclusive teaching within STEM college online courses. We document in detail the Academy's design and instructional approach, and examine its impact on the perceptions and instructional practices of 79 faculty participants from eight California institutions, using pre- and post-Academy surveys and in-depth interviews. Results indicate that participants found the humanizing elements covered in the Academy highly beneficial for building trust with students. Post-Academy, instructors reported increased confidence in online teaching, stronger belief in their ability to address equity gaps, and enhanced support for diverse student backgrounds. Their instructional approaches also evolved to prioritize interpersonal interactions and individual student needs. Interviews revealed heightened awareness of student diversity and intentional efforts to accommodate it.

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来源期刊

Internet and Higher Education EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH-

CiteScore

19.30

自引率

4.70%

发文量

审稿时长

40 days

期刊介绍： The Internet and Higher Education is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal focused on contemporary issues and future trends in online learning, teaching, and administration within post-secondary education. It welcomes contributions from diverse academic disciplines worldwide and provides a platform for theory papers, research studies, critical essays, editorials, reviews, case studies, and social commentary.