Generally, online teaching involves numerous emails, articles, readings, assignments, term papers, Web sites, learning objects, and other digital resources. It is a challenge to keep, manage, and access the avalanche of files. This poster reports on a research project that investigated how faculty manage the deluge of files and information associated with teaching online courses. It also offers recommendations on strategies for managing the digital information associated with teaching online.
We conducted virtual focus groups using the Elluminate Web conferencing system to examine how online faculty organize and manage digital resources related to online teaching such as course development materials, email communication, and student assignments. Our research questions were:
1. What strategies do online teaching faculty use to manage digital information associated with online courses?
2. What challenges do online teaching faculty face in managing such digital resources?
Challenges mentioned by participants included:
• Finding time to keep up with emerging technologies
• Determining what information to keep track of and what to eliminate
• Finding previously filed information
• Turning older file formats into Web-ready documents
After analyzing the results of our study, we grouped strategies and challenges into four categories: 1) email practices, 2) computer desktop practices, 3) Web practices, and 4) cross-category practices.
In addition to reporting on the strategies and challenges mentioned by our research participants, we will cover concepts from the personal knowledge management literature. We will present effective strategies for organizing, storing, and digital resources as well as technologies for managing information, accessing material from different locations, and sharing resources. Following our session, participants will be more aware of the variety of tools and strategies that are available to organize digital files and, ultimately, manage the workload associated with online teaching.
