To Teach or Not to Teach Online: Pedagogical Considerations About Distance Learning

The use of online course delivery has been promoted at many institutions of higher education as a way to provide greater access to students in a variety of degree programs. The lack of emphasis of online pedagogical strategies has left many faculty members to not consider teaching online, while administrators look for ways to increase revenue through enrollment with limited classroom space on campus. In this paper, the reasons faculty who have taught not online are explored and examined, while providing insight into the motivations of teaching online that could lead to increased participation within distance learning frameworks. Currently, universities across the globe are continuously challenged to provide increased opportunities to non-traditional students without increasing tuition for students or the overall operating budget. As most non-traditional students are not able to attend their classes in a full-time status, many universities are now encouraging and developing a strong distance education program across their institutions. Although distance learning does in fact provide non-traditional students the opportunity of higher education the integrity of university must not be lost, and the following case study of a Hispanic Serving Institution in the Southwest United states is a good example of how universities must consider the consequences and not just the benefits that online teaching has to offer.