2. How long have you been in your profession? How many
courses do you teach per semester?
Dr. Case reports that she has been teaching for
over 20 years and teaches one course per
semester and enjoys it very much.
3. Do you work in other programs beside Kaplan
University? For example do you work at a community
college or another occupation?
Dr. Case mentioned that
she thought about
working outside of online
teaching, but her busy
life does not allow it at
this point in time!
4. What are the challenges of teaching adult learners?
What are the best things about teaching adult
learners?
Competition for
time.
Want to teach
more than time
allows.
Would like to
get to know the
students better.
Students aware
of various roles
we all play.
(working, family
etc.)
It is liberating to
learn from the
students and
experience with
them.
5. Dr. Case just loves
teaching!
I could not picture doing anything else.
Throughout my experiences as well as my
personal interests, I always knew I would be
a teacher, and I wouldn’t have it any other
way. I do not mind the challenges, and enjoy
the roles I play as a wife, mother, and a
teacher!
6. Do you consider yourself to have more of a teacher
based classroom setting or student based?
My classroom is definitely more student based. I feel as though it is
most important to get students to motivate each other and collaborate
as peers on discussion board assignments and wikis. I cannot stress that
enough to students that participation enhances their learning and
makes the experience worthwhile.
7. What advice do you have for a person starting out for the teaching
profession?
Dr. Case’s advice to a person
starting out is to have
confidence and to be flexible
with the changes and
challenges at hand. When
this is established, being an
instructor is a fun
experience.
8. What social or personal challenges have you faced in
your teaching career?
“Some challenges that I have
faced in my career include the
lack of opportunities to
collaborate on research projects
as I am not full time and I am not
surrounded by my fellow
colleagues” (Case, 2015).
9. Do you think there is a difference of quality of learning
outcome in traditional learning versus online learning? Does
one setting have an advantage over the other? If so why or
why not?
I think that learning online is just as
valuable as learning in the
traditional classroom. Oftentimes,
I think that it is more rigorous and
marked by learning outcomes
linking to the goals of the
university. It is a very new way of
learning still and it needs getting
used to for some constituents.
I can say that I personally have
more contact and communication
with students in my online courses
than I have ever had in the
traditional classroom setting.
10. Is it important to you as a Professor to be flexible and
always evolve as student needs change? Do you
believe in capability education?
Flexibility as an instructor is essential for student success! There are
times when I as a teacher must change deadlines or revise assignments
to meet the needs of my students, all within reason though and
according to the university guidelines. I am not certain as to the
definition of capability learning but I will research and get back to you
asap!
11. Thank you !
End of interview: Desiree Rains and Dr. Kimberly
Case (2015)
