Team-Based Online Course Development: A Case Study of Collaboration Models.

It is generally accepted that teaching online is a different experience than teaching face-to-face, requiring new skills and techniques. To address some of the unique challenges related to teaching in the online environment, many institutions of higher education utilize a collaborative team-based approach to online course development bringing together faculty and a variety of instructional support staff. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of collaborative approaches to online course development and elaborate on one such program. The intended collaboration model for that program will be compared to the actual collaboration models of four teams participating in the program. The benefits and limitations of the modified collaboration models will be discussed in relation to the flexibility of the program and participants, ownership of the process, and communication among team members. Collaboration Models for Online Course Development As online courses and academic programs are becoming more commonplace at traditional higher education institutions, a growing number of faculty are being asked (or are asking) to teach online. It is generally accepted that teaching online is a different experience than teaching face-to-face, requiring new skills and techniques. Research suggests that faculty may struggle