Opinions of Instructors Who Give Lectures Online About Distance Education

Abstract

As in most countries, in Turkey, distance education applications are being implemented by many higher education and private institutions and becoming popular. The common compulsory courses at Abant Izzet Baysal University in associate and undergraduate level have been implemented online since the fall semester of 2014-2015 academic year. The instructors of these courses have the first experience of online lecturing at Abant Izzet Baysal University. As distance education is a novel approach for the university and the instructors of the common compulsory course, it is possible that the instructors have problems about online teaching. Thus, the examination of instructors’ opinions about online teaching process is important to enhance the distance education system at the institution. The aim of this study is examine the opinions of instructors of the common online compulsory courses deeply, and, in consideration with the results of the study, make suggestions in order to make contributions in the development of the distance education system. Within the aim of the study, semi-structured and face-to-face interviews were implemented with 12 instructors, and the collected data were analyzed with descriptive techniques. The results of the study showed instructors positive and negative opinions on technology, support, administration, teaching and learning, and content dimensions of online teaching and learning process.