Do You Have the Time? Investigating Online Classroom Workload

Abstract

The time it takes to teach and take classes has been the subject of much speculation, but no accurate standard exists to measure the amount of time instructors and students dedicate to courses. The most common measure of workload has been the credit system. As administrators push faculty toward teaching online or adding online components to their existing classes, time commitment remains one of the strongest objections to teaching online. Characteristics of online environments (such as added flexibility) appeal to a growing number of students, elevating time management to an even more critical level. This study discusses a Web-based time log system used to measure during-course workload. The system was used in five masters-level classes over a 2-year period. It is contended that by using systems such as the one outlined herein, administrators, faculty, and students can better examine and determine the important but often neglected factor of workload.