Internet Learning Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2012 | Page 60

Ethical, Academic, and Practical Considerations for Online Teaching

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Mutual Concerns
1. Relentless pressure for frequent and timely communication with students, far more frequently
than might be expected in a traditional class setting, leading to an “always at work” expectation
for faculty and staff.
2. The pressure to structure online courses in ways to demonstrate frequent faculty student
interaction.
3. The logistical challenges for both faculty and administrators to ensure testing integrity.
4. Some of these have been addressed by creating a mandatory “meaningful convening event”
whereby instructors can actually meet their online students and the students themselves can
interact not only with each other by with other professional in the field. Such events also provide
the opportunity for instructors to serve as proctors for their own exams (Hamilton 2010).
Student Concerns
1. The additional expense involved with online testing options, such as equipment purchases
(Remote Proctor Devices) or testing fees at commercial testing centers (e.g., Sylvan Learning
Centers, ProctorU).
2. Frustrations that arise when legitimate technical problems (lock outs, loss of data) occur
during testing, even to the extent of students having to re-take exams.
3. Personal privacy issues that can result from the utilization of technology designe