Leadership in a virtual community
by Ellen B. Scales
International Journal of Web Based Communities (IJWBC), Vol. 6, No. 2, 2010

Abstract: Recent research into online education in the USA reports that a majority of higher education institutions consider online education integral to their long-term goals. Online education has expanded the scope of traditional brick-and-mortar institutions to anytime access. Faculty who teach online can be drawn from a worldwide community of experts. While the possibilities of online education are substantial, the challenges of creating collaborative learning opportunities and of community building require new ways of thinking and leading. This paper lays out these challenges and opportunities for academic leaders who administer online programmes with a large population of professors and students from around the world. Drawing from qualitative research data, the author discusses a unique set of faculty issues that has arisen as courses from a campus programme are offered online, including the thorny definition of collaborative leadership and the evolution of an online 'team'.

Online publication date: Wed, 17-Mar-2010

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